Social Folk customs of the Sonowal and Thengal Kacharis
by Suravi Gohain Duwarah | 2022 | 50,902 words
This essay studies the customs and folk traditions of the Sonowal and Thengal Kacharis of Assam—both of Mongoloid origin and part of the Tibeto-Burman linguistic family. These tribes possess rich customs, traditions, and oral histories. This study explores the similarities and differences between the Sonowal and Thengal Kachari tribes by emphasizin...
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Part 1.1 - Description of Panitula Sabah
The word ‘Panitula’ means the custom of fetching water. “Panitula Sabah” is an annual ritual of the Thengal Kacharis. They observe this in the month of ‘Jeth’ and preferably held before the start of the sowing season. The ceremony continues for three to five days and there is no fixed date for observing this. The village headman has a discussion with the villagers in the village ‘Naamghar’ and decides the date for conducting the ‘Sabah’. ‘The ceremony of fetching water from the source is done by three girls who have not attained puberty. These girls are accompanied by the village folk and the process is carried on by singing ‘gosain songs’ and ‘Gayan bayan’ by playing dhol and khol. The girls fetch water from a pond or a river and carry water in earthen pots. With the earthen pots in their hands they encircle the ‘Naamghar’ thrice and in the last-round they sprinkle water in the corners of the ‘Naamghar’. The empty pots are then placed in the ‘monikut’ of the Naamghar.’[1]
In this way it continues for three days and on the last day the village folks gather in the Naamghar and sing devotional songs. At the end ‘Maah Prasad’ is distributed among the people. They make a boat of banana sheath on this day itself and sail that boat shaped raft into the river. Before sailing it they decorate the raft.[2]
This is still practiced in Dhaldhalia village of Bihpuria Subdivision of North Lakhimpur District. When I visited my study area, I was informed that the villagers organize this ceremony for the well being and protection of the people. They wish that the custom done in this ritual will help them from removing the sufferings, misfortunes and unhappiness in their life. They also worship for a good cultivation in the coming year.
The act of sailing away the boat made of banana sheath signifies all these. They believe that along with the boat everything bad will be drifted away. With this belief in their mind they conduct the ‘Panitula Sabha’.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Informant: Bhubon Borah
[2]:
Sharma Mukut: Thengal Kacharir Dhormiyo Biswakh, Thengal Kachari Jibon aru Sanskriti, 2019, p 37