Techniques (h-i): Ideal Construction Time and Foundation Ceremony

Ideal Construction Time

The different construction materials are collected seasonally and processed prior to construction. Again, the house construction activities are undertaken normally during a specific period of the year that coincides with the abundant production of the building material, seasonal congeniality, abundance of labour etc. It starts after the harvesting season i.e. in Assamese month of magh / Phagun (January / February). Thus, new construction, renovation and re-thatching of house are done before the commencement of the rainy season and completes before the starting of agricultural activities that normally stars by Bohag month (April). This period when there is least agricultural activities, labour is abundant, weather is favourable, so ideal for the purpose.

Foundation Ceremony

Since a house is regarded as an auspicious enclosure and abode of different spirits, hence it is constructed following certain norms and ritualistic consideration. Therefore, it is a general practice, irrespective of community, to start the construction of a house through prescribed ritualistic ceremony. This ceremony takes place during the planting of the main post of the house. Different supernatural-drawn beliefs and practices, astrological consideration, traditional beliefs and practices influence the foundation ceremony. This ceremony is regarded as an indispensible and auspicious part of house construction.

After the selection of site, however, house construction process starts with the consideration of different aspects. Foremost, an auspicious moment is chosen in consultation with an astrologer or diviner, whose advice is strictly followed. As mentioned above, the main post, known as ghai-ghuta / bar-khuta etc. is embedded first through prescribed procedure. The position of this post may vary in different society but normally the north-east corner post or an eastern post is embedded first.

The digging of the pit for the post is carried through prayer and offering of oblation to the God. Thus, a sharai is offered along with lighting of earthen lamp, burning of incense, or other prescribed oblations are offered to God. The members of the family kneel down and pray for the purpose. Then, different auspicious stuffs such as precious metal like gold or silver, flower, rice grain, a coin and so on are offered in the pit. There are different supernatural connotations of such practice. It is believed that putting of such thing will ensure affluence of such thing in the household. Simultaneously, the process is regarded as seeking of permission and ceremonial purchasing of the land for the purpose from the Basumati / Thalgiri. It is again an endeavour to seek the favour of the benevolent spirits and simultaneously a measure to barricade the malevolent force’s entry to the site. Thus to keep away or scare away the evil earth spirits, the Tai communities put rice beer mixed with thrashed raw turmeric into the pit (Gohain:2015). Simultaneously, the Tang-chom worship of the Turungs, sacrifice and chanting of specific mantra by the Rabhas on the occasion, are examples of similar practices.

After prescribed offering and prayer, the first post is embedded after wrapping a piece of red cloth (or a gamocha) and fastening sometimes a bow and arrow at the top of the post. This whole practice is laden with different supernatural beliefs. Thus, it can be assumed that first planting of the North-east corner post bears symbolic connotation and perhaps is connected with the Vastu Purusha Mandala. It is because; the NE cardinal direction (Esana) is regarded as the direction presided by the Lord Shiva. Similarly, the east is believed as presided by the God Indra (and ruled by Aditya), “the ruler of five physical senses” and “power that connects and binds people together” (Vastu Purush Mandala-Energy Fields). Similarly, the red cloth also carries such bearing as red colour is regarded auspicious and used on sacred affairs. Simultaneously, the fastening of the bow and arrow also has symbolic connotation, which impedes malevolent spirits to enter the house. The bow and arrow perhaps signifies the Sun God, who points his arrows at the amorphous power of darkness, thereby eliminates the demonic darkness. Thus, it can be regarded as a symbol of desired luminosity against demonic darkness. In some areas, it is believed that the bow and arrow keeps away evils as well as saves the house from lightning. It is to be mentioned here that the Tai Buddhist communities usually wrap a gamocha or white cloth on the occasion. The main person who constructs the house, or the craftsman engaged is offered with new clothes in the occasion.

For the foundation ceremony, the tradition prescribed time, month, days are strictly followed. Thus, certain weekdays and month are regarded as auspicious while certain are taboo. Generally, the new moon fortnight is regarded as ominous for the occasion, while the bright fortnight is regarded as auspicious. Similarly, the planting of the post takes place in the morning half of the day. Some Tai Buddhist communities conduct this ceremony at the dawn, before the crow of the birds.