Part 2.3 - Marriage customs (of the Thengal Kacharis)

[Full title: Customs reflected in Life Cycle Rites (3) Marriage customs]

The Thengal Kacharis mainly practice three types of marriages. They are Bor biya, Abiyoi biya or Juron diya biya and Poluyai niya biya.

Bor Biya:

Several customs are performed by this tribe in the celebration of the marriages. Usually in the Bor biyas the bride is taken to the groom’s house and the rituals are conducted there. Earlier there was the tradition of arranging the marriage for seven days. But nowadays, changes have come and people prefer to celebrate this just for one or two days. During the field study an informant^[1] said that they have the custom of ‘Batchanda Bhoja’ i.e. the custom of the groom’s family members going to the bride’s house for asking the girl to get married to their house. A middle man does all these and he is called as ‘baura’. On the day of the ‘batchanda’ the groom’s family members carry loads in choipotiya pachi and the pachi contains bhap pitha, curd in the two earthen pots, betel nut and leaves, bora chawal, sandoh, and a big fish (barali or sal fish). This load is named ‘bhojabhar’. There is an exchange of this bhojabhar between the two families. From this day onward, the marriage of the boy and the girl are engaged to be married. The custom of ‘Juron diya’ is an important ritual of the Thengal Kacharis. This function takes place one or two days before marriage ceremony this is the first ritual of the marriage. It is also known as ‘Tekeli Diya’. The groom’s family members go to the bride’s place and they carry mekhela-chador, jewellery and all other essential items for the bride. They also take with them paste of turmeric and mati maah, gathiyon, bunch of betel nut and fish. A paste of turmeric and mati maah is used for the ceremonious bathing of the bride and the groom. The load they carry or Juron diya is also known as ‘Sudhoni bhar’.^[2] The same day the groom’s party also carries another load known as ‘Sokolipotiya’. This contains the essential items for the Na purukhor shradha. Kosu, fish, pepper etc. are carried in this load. This is accepted by the bride groom’s brother. Along with the other items they have the custom of carrying one pot of curd, edun kumal sawal, ethuk tamul, chari gusi paan and chiki orihona as ‘gorokhiya bhar’. Then the custom of bathing the bride and the groom is performed in a place called ‘bei’. They believe that if they keep a duck’s egg and siki poisa and the robha, then the bride and the groom will not be under the influence of any kind of evil eyes.^[3]

There is the custom of a young girl carrying a ‘dunori’ along with a group of women to fetch water. They sing ‘Panitula Songs’ and the mother of the bride and the groom carry a ‘kasi’. The sickle is moved in the water thrice. The fetched water is used for having a ceremonies bathe of the bride and the groom.

This water is considered to be pure and they believe that bathing with this water make the bride and the groom free from any kind of evil eyes. Another ritual known as ‘Gathion Khunda’ is practiced in their society. The customs related to this is that women folk gather and grind ‘gathion’. Grinding of gathion is done thrice. They believe that this should not be seen by everybody, so they hang a Seleng Chador to hide that act. Another very unique custom known as ‘Khulangbuhi naach’ or ‘Kula burhi naach’ is performed by an elderly woman on the occasion of gathion khunda. An elderly woman takes a ‘dola’ on her head and betel nut, leaves, a pati poisa, an ornament and a bag is hung in a bamboo pole. The bag is filled with some broken pieces of earthen pots. The end of the bamboo pole is split in such a way that when the woman hits it on the ground it makes a sound. The split bamboo is called ‘Jerenga’. Then she dances in a special way with the ‘dola’ and ‘jerenga’ in her hand accompanied by the beat of the drum.^[4] They believe that the bag contains the price for buying the bride. ‘The tradition of khulang buhi naach is performed with a belief that the married life of the newly wedded couple would be filled with happiness, abundance and also regarding the fertility of the couple.^[5]

There is another custom ‘Huaguri tula’ related to the rituals of the marriage when the mother and the womenfolk go to fetch water, they bring water in an earthen pot and the water is used in the vedic rituals of the marriage.^[6] Maan daan khowa is also a custom and in this the groom is introduced with the relatives of the bride. Moreover there is the custom of handing over the list of the essential goods that she carries with her to the groom’s party.

The function of ‘khuba khubuni’ is conducted on the third day of the marriage. Khuba khubuni is considered as an evil spirit by the Thengal Kacharis. So in order to chase away the evil spirit the elderly people organize the sabah. On that day the ornaments of the bride is kept in two agoli kolapat of bhimkol and the elderly person of the village utters some charms known as ‘Siva-Parbati Mukhbhanga Mantra’. One haluwa ties the bride and the groom with the nangoljurali and chews gut korai and tamul paan and spits upon the bride and the groom and let them plough like cattle and bless the couple for a happy married life. Then the newly wedded couple is given to pound rice in a ‘dheki’ and fed the villagers with the pounded rice. Feast is also organized in this occasion. The khuba-khubuni celebrated by other tribes and communities in Assam now-a-days is contribution of the Thengal Kacharis.^[7]

On the eighth day there is another custom known as ‘Aathmongola’. A feast is organized by the bride’s family to celebrate the special moments with great enthusiasm and enjoyment. These are the customs of the Bor biya of the Thengal Kacharis.

Abiyoi biya or Juron Diya Biya:

The rituals of this type of marriage are not much like that of the Bor biya. The elderly family members go to the bride’s house, taking along with then the ‘Juron’. All the custom of this marriage is performed during the day time. The bride is dressed up with the ‘mekhela chador’ and ornaments given by the groom.

Like other types of marriage household utensils and others necessary goods are sent with the bride to the groom’s house. With the blessings from the elderly people present there the bride is brought to the groom’s house. In very rare case the groom goes along with the family members. Before leaving the grooms’ family members extend their respect to the elderly persons.

Polai jua biya:

The elopement of a boy and a girl without the consent of the family members is ‘Polai Jua Biya’. When both the families become confirm of the elopement, then there is a tradition of giving a ‘xorai’ from the groom’s side. This is a custom which is done in order to inform the bride’s parents that they want to establish a relation with them. If they have the consent in that marriage then the bride’s parents will accept the ‘xorai’. This practice of polai jua biya is very commonly seen even today.^[8]

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

Informant: Lakhiram Saikia

[2]:

Informant: Lilawati Saikia

[3]:

Op. Cit. Neog, 2013 p 185

[4]:

Neog Hemanga: Thengal Kacharir Kulaburhi Naach in Borah Sabitri (ed) Souvenir, Lakhimpur Zila Thengal Kachari Sangathan, 2010, p 9

[5]:

Ibid, p 10

[6]:

Sharma Mukut: Thengal Kachari Jibon aru Sanskriti, 2019, p 52

[7]:

Op. Cit Neog, 2013, p 186

[8]:

Informant: Champa Saikia