The Bodo Tribe
Assam
The Bodo people constitute the largest minority group in Assam, primarily concentrated in the northern regions of the Brahmaputra River valley. Most Bodos are located in Udalguri, Kokrajhar, Baksa, and Chirang districts and thus in the year 2003, the Indian government designated these four districts as the Bodoland Territorial Autonomous Districts (BTAD).
Historically, the Bodos have inhabited the plains and hills of Assam for centuries, with their culture deeply rooted in the region's diverse ethnic tapestry. They have traditionally practiced agriculture, cultivating crops such as rice, maize, and millet, and have also engaged in activities like sericulture and handicrafts.
The Bodos have a distinct linguistic and cultural identity. They have rich traditions of folk music, dance, and festivals, which play a vital role in their social and cultural life. One of the most significant festivals among the Bodos is the Bwisagu (also known as Bohag Bihu), celebrated to mark the beginning of the agricultural year with dancing, singing, and feasting.
They are known by different names like - Boros, Bodos, Boro-Kacharis, Plain Kacharis or Meches.
Lineage:
Tibeto-Burman
About
Family Structure
In Bodo culture, marriages are typically arranged by parents and involve the payment of a bride’s price. Marriages often unite members from different clans, and polygamy is practiced. A unique tradition requires a man to marry his wife's father's widow. This woman holds a higher status than her daughter, who may already be married to the man.
A man's nephew (sister's son), known as his nokrom, holds a special role. He can marry one of the man's daughters and later inherit the widow and property, as women cannot inherit property directly. Thus, the nokrom ensures the family's interests are secured for future generations.
Legacy
In Bodo villages, the headman typically marries the heiress, the senior woman of the landowning lineage. He passes on his role as headman to his nephew, who marries the headman's daughter (the next heiress). This leads to an enduring alliance between the lineages of male headmen and female heiresses. Both political and land titles are passed down matrilineally: one through the male lineage and the other through the female lineage.
Economy
Most Bodos now engage in settled farming, having moved away from their traditional practice of shifting cultivation. Agriculture forms the cornerstone of their livelihoods, with paddy being the primary crop during the summer season. Other significant crops grown include jute, mustard, sesame (Sobai), black gram (Sibing), and oil seeds (Beswor) during the winter season.
Bodos have a strong agricultural tradition that includes rice cultivation, jute farming, and betel nut plantations. They also participate in fishing, poultry farming, and pig rearing, while raising various domestic animals and birds. In the past, there were restrictions on selling milk and fish within the community. Additionally, Bodos are involved in selling handicrafts such as woven items like Aronai, Dokna, and Pasra, reflecting their diverse economic activities and cultural practices.
Current population
2.2 million
Culture & Traditions
For writing, the Bodos traditionally used both the Roman script and Assamese script. Recently, they have adopted the Nagari script for their written language.
Their vibrant culture includes various forms of artistic expression such as dance and song, reflecting their diverse religious practices and beliefs. Bathouism holds particular significance among their spiritual traditions.
Today, having started libraries, socio-cultural associations, and clubs in the remote areas, shows the Boros are adaptive to a social transition.
Bathouism is the traditional religion of the Bodos. In the Bodo dialect, "Bathou" signifies the five principles, with "Ba" meaning five and "Thou" meaning deep. These five principles are Bar (air), San (sun), Ha (earth), Dwi (water), and Okhrang (sky or universe). The chief deity, known as "Bathoubwrai" or "Bwrai Bathou" (with "Bwrai" meaning Elder), is revered as omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient, and is believed to have created these five principles.
Interestingly, the Bodos do not have temples or fixed shrines for worship. They choose any suitable place for their rituals, often preparing an altar for the purpose. This altar is long in shape and divided into three parts, typically constructed in a grazing field.
Religion
Hindu
Language:
Primarily Boro language, and they have adapted themselves to use Assamese and Roman scripts.
Festivals
Baishagu is the principal festival celebrated by the Bodo community with great fervor in mid-April.
Domashi is another festival observed by the Bodo tribe to honor their ancestors. Typically held in February or March, it serves as a time for families to gather and show reverence to their forefathers through rituals such as lighting lamps and offering food.
Garja is a harvest festival observed by the Bodo tribe in September, dedicated to goddess Garja, believed to safeguard crops for a prosperous harvest. It features lamp lighting, traditional song performances, and feasting on Bodo cuisine.
Harniai is a festival celebrated by the Bodo tribe in reverence to goddess Harnai, typically held in August or September. It is a time to seek blessings for health and prosperity through prayers, lamp lighting, and traditional song singing.
Kherai is an annual festival celebrated by the Bodo tribe to honor goddess Kherai, typically held in July or August. It's a time to seek blessings for a fruitful harvest through prayers, lamp lighting, and traditional song.
Bwisagu holds great significance as the most important festival among the Bodo tribe, celebrated in mid-April to mark the start of the new year. It is a festive occasion filled with traditional dances, songs, and feasting on Bodo cuisine. Women adorn themselves in Dokhna (long skirts) and Risa (blouses), showcasing their rich cultural attire.
Practices
In Bodo culture, polyandry, where a woman has multiple husbands, is strictly prohibited. Instead, they have various forms of marriage:
1. SwngnaiHaba : This is a traditional form where marriages are arranged by families, often based on compatibility and familial considerations.
2. Kharsonnaihaba : In this form, a woman may elope with her chosen partner without the consent of her family, often due to societal or familial disapproval of the match.
3. GwrjiyaLakhinaiHaba : This type of marriage involves the groom living with the bride's family after marriage, which can occur for various reasons, including economic or familial arrangements.
4. DwnkharnaiHaba : Similar to Kharsonnaihaba, this form involves the couple eloping without formal consent or approval, often due to familial or societal restrictions.
5. Dongkhahabnaihaba : This form allows widows to remarry, providing them with social and economic support while addressing traditional beliefs and practices.
Each of these forms reflects the cultural nuances and practices within Bodo society, emphasizing both traditional values and adaptations to changing societal norms and circumstances.