Assam Festivals
The spring descends to rejuvenate life again. Ali-Ai-Lvigang, the spring festival of the Mishing tribe is the most colourful festival held every year on the first Wednesday of the month of 'Ginmur Polo' (February - March). This festival begins the ceremonial sowing of paddy. Dance performed by the young boys and girls reflects youthful passions. Dance is followed by a feast. No feast is complete without rice beer and dried fish. The festival continues for five days and during this festival certain taboos in respect of cutting trees, fishing, ploughing, burning jungles, etc. are strictly observed.
Bohaggiyo Bishu Festival -- April :
The most fascinating spring festival of the Deoris is known as the Bohaggiyo Bishu. The term 'Bishu' can be divided as "Bi" meaning extreme and "Su" meaning 'rejoicing'.
Like all other springtime tribal festivals, Bohagiyo Bishu, is also observed during mid-April at a stretch for seven days with unrestricted joy and merrymaking. A 'Than Puja' is performed during this time.
Dosa Thoi ! Long Nai - mid April :
A religious dance performed at the "Bathou Puja" or worshipping of God Shiva. In this dance the priestess called Deodhani dances with a bowl on her head in which the blood of a sacrificed fowl is kept.
It is believed that while the Deodhani performs this dance in a condition of trance Lord Bathou (Shiva) will snatch away the bowl and drink the blood.
Heleibambe Festival - April :
Heleibambe festival is celebrated by each Zemi village.According to the convenience of the villagers prior to the starting of 'Jhum' cultivation some time in mid April the village priest, sacrifices a buffalo for the appeasement of 'Suhprai', the God of crops. The meat of the sacrificed animal is then distributed among all.
After a feast, the villagers dance and sing, which continues throughout the night. On the second day young boys and girls sing and dance in village streets stopping for sometime in front of each household. Prior to the village street singing and dancing, the boys and the girls collect wild leaves from the nearby forest and distribute to all households in the villages. The main purpose of holding this festival is to appease the crop God 'Suhprai' so that they could have a bumper crop
Nyada Festival :
Nyada festival is held in the early part of December month. Celebration of this festival marks the end of the agricultural year. This festival continues for eight days and each day has its own significance.
On the first day, rice beer is brewed. On the second day, the graves of the ancestors are repaired by their descendants by cutting the jungles around the graves and by replacing the fallen stone slabs on the graves. On the third day, the women offer rice beer on the graves of their forefathers. On the fourth day, the young boys and girls sing and dance in memory of the ancestors. On the same day, the young boys and girls collect foodstuff from the families of the village to be taken in a feast on the last day of the festival. On the sixth day, rice beer is drunk by one and all. On the seventh day, men go out to gather thatch for repairing their own houses. On the last day that is on the eighth the young men of the 'Rensi' arrange a feast for them.
Pi-Pe Festival :
The Pi-Pe festival is held by the Rengma Naga at the beginning of January month. This festival continues for three days and its main purpose is to get rid of all the evils of the preceding year. During these three days all persons have to keep themselves neat and clean by taking bath everyday. Married couples refrain from any sexual contact during these three days. Only after the observance of this ceremony new jungles for cultivation are cleared.
Ambubasi Mela :
Ambubasi mela is held every year during monsoon in the Kamakhya temple at Guwahati. This mela is associated with the legend of menstrual cycle of the Goddess Kamakhya. During Ambubasi, the temple remains closed for three days during which the devotees accumulate in the temple premises and wait for the auspicious fourth day when they are allowed to worship the Goddess inside the temple. The accumulation of sadhus and pandas from all over the country and the locally available art and craft items for sale on the roadside make it an interesting place to visit and witness the festivities involved. The pandits chanting mantras on behalf of the devotees, pilgrims performing puja, all these make the fair an interesting affair.
Daranga mela :
Daranga mela is a big bazaar held annually for about a month, situated about thirty miles from Rangiya in northern Kamarupa. From the start of autumn till spring is over, dried-up Daranga becomes an international trade centre. Bhutanese also participate in this fair by trading agricultural produce like oranges, Kasturi, butter, cloth, cattle, horses, and dogs. They take back kerosene, coconut-oil, salt, yarn, utensils etc. The Bhutanese through this fair have established friendly contact with the local people.
The spring descends to rejuvenate life again. Ali-Ai-Lvigang, the spring festival of the Mishing tribe is the most colourful festival held every year on the first Wednesday of the month of 'Ginmur Polo' (February - March). This festival begins the ceremonial sowing of paddy. Dance performed by the young boys and girls reflects youthful passions. Dance is followed by a feast. No feast is complete without rice beer and dried fish. The festival continues for five days and during this festival certain taboos in respect of cutting trees, fishing, ploughing, burning jungles, etc. are strictly observed.
Bohaggiyo Bishu Festival -- April :
The most fascinating spring festival of the Deoris is known as the Bohaggiyo Bishu. The term 'Bishu' can be divided as "Bi" meaning extreme and "Su" meaning 'rejoicing'.
Like all other springtime tribal festivals, Bohagiyo Bishu, is also observed during mid-April at a stretch for seven days with unrestricted joy and merrymaking. A 'Than Puja' is performed during this time.
Dosa Thoi ! Long Nai - mid April :
A religious dance performed at the "Bathou Puja" or worshipping of God Shiva. In this dance the priestess called Deodhani dances with a bowl on her head in which the blood of a sacrificed fowl is kept.
It is believed that while the Deodhani performs this dance in a condition of trance Lord Bathou (Shiva) will snatch away the bowl and drink the blood.
Heleibambe Festival - April :
Heleibambe festival is celebrated by each Zemi village.According to the convenience of the villagers prior to the starting of 'Jhum' cultivation some time in mid April the village priest, sacrifices a buffalo for the appeasement of 'Suhprai', the God of crops. The meat of the sacrificed animal is then distributed among all.
After a feast, the villagers dance and sing, which continues throughout the night. On the second day young boys and girls sing and dance in village streets stopping for sometime in front of each household. Prior to the village street singing and dancing, the boys and the girls collect wild leaves from the nearby forest and distribute to all households in the villages. The main purpose of holding this festival is to appease the crop God 'Suhprai' so that they could have a bumper crop
Nyada Festival :
Nyada festival is held in the early part of December month. Celebration of this festival marks the end of the agricultural year. This festival continues for eight days and each day has its own significance.
On the first day, rice beer is brewed. On the second day, the graves of the ancestors are repaired by their descendants by cutting the jungles around the graves and by replacing the fallen stone slabs on the graves. On the third day, the women offer rice beer on the graves of their forefathers. On the fourth day, the young boys and girls sing and dance in memory of the ancestors. On the same day, the young boys and girls collect foodstuff from the families of the village to be taken in a feast on the last day of the festival. On the sixth day, rice beer is drunk by one and all. On the seventh day, men go out to gather thatch for repairing their own houses. On the last day that is on the eighth the young men of the 'Rensi' arrange a feast for them.
Pi-Pe Festival :
The Pi-Pe festival is held by the Rengma Naga at the beginning of January month. This festival continues for three days and its main purpose is to get rid of all the evils of the preceding year. During these three days all persons have to keep themselves neat and clean by taking bath everyday. Married couples refrain from any sexual contact during these three days. Only after the observance of this ceremony new jungles for cultivation are cleared.
Ambubasi Mela :
Ambubasi mela is held every year during monsoon in the Kamakhya temple at Guwahati. This mela is associated with the legend of menstrual cycle of the Goddess Kamakhya. During Ambubasi, the temple remains closed for three days during which the devotees accumulate in the temple premises and wait for the auspicious fourth day when they are allowed to worship the Goddess inside the temple. The accumulation of sadhus and pandas from all over the country and the locally available art and craft items for sale on the roadside make it an interesting place to visit and witness the festivities involved. The pandits chanting mantras on behalf of the devotees, pilgrims performing puja, all these make the fair an interesting affair.
Daranga mela :
Daranga mela is a big bazaar held annually for about a month, situated about thirty miles from Rangiya in northern Kamarupa. From the start of autumn till spring is over, dried-up Daranga becomes an international trade centre. Bhutanese also participate in this fair by trading agricultural produce like oranges, Kasturi, butter, cloth, cattle, horses, and dogs. They take back kerosene, coconut-oil, salt, yarn, utensils etc. The Bhutanese through this fair have established friendly contact with the local people.
0 comments:
Post a Comment