Over the years quite a handful of tribal communities have taken shelter in every nook and corner of the region. Amongst these the Bodo tribes deserve special mentioning. Apart from this the Bodo tribes are also found in several places like Assam etc. Special information is being thrown about the total population of the Bodo tribal community. Interestingly, the 1971 Census report designated the Bodo tribal community being the Eighth principal Scheduled tribe group in the Indian subcontinent. These Bodo tribes are amongst the primitive settlers of the valley of Assam. According to the Census report of the year 1991, it has been enumerated to be about 1.2 million in the whole of the state of Assam, which constitutes of the 5.3% of the total population of the state. In other words, the Bodo tribal community has a belonging to a large group of ethnicity, popularly named as the Bodo-Kachari. So much so that the 6th Schedule of the Constitution of India has conferred the Bodo tribal community the status and prestige of a plain tribe. Kokrajhar town is regarded as the hub of the Bodo tribal community. Other main concentration includes the Brahmaputra valleys and also its adjacent areas.
Cultural exuberance of the whole of the society of the Bodo tribal community incorporates elements like dancing, singing, language etc. Also if one studies the society of the Bodo tribal community, one can find several surnames like Bargayary, Basumatary, Bodosa, Boro, Brahma, Bwiswmuthiary, Dwimary, Goyary, Ishlary, Ishwary, Khaklary, Mushahary, Narzary, Owary, Sargwary, Sibigry and Wary.
As far as the languages are concerned, these Bodo tribes prefer the beautiful Bodo language, which has been derived from famous Tibeto-Burmese language family. For writing, majority of these Bodo tribes of the primitive ages make use of the Roman script and Assamese script. As a recent phenomenon, this Bodo tribal community has taken up the Devanagari script. There are also some eminent scholars who are of the opinion that the Bodo language has developed their indigenous script, which is popularly called Deodhai.
Over the years following the traditions and culture of some of the other tribal communities of the whole of the Indian subcontinent, these Bodo tribes too have taken up several occupations. In the early years, this Bodo tribal community has practiced of all types of cultivation and farming. Rice farming, tea plantation, pig and poultry farming, and silkworm rearing are quite significant amongst them.
Even, these Bodo tribes have developed tastes for some of the mouthwatering dishes . All the Bodo tribal community is very fond of the conventional drink, called Zu mai where Zu means wine, Mai means rice. For most of the Bodo tribes , rice is the main food and is usually savored by a non vegetarian dish like fish or pork. In fact almost all the Bodo tribes have developed preference for various kinds of non-vegetarian dishes.
Weaving is also a popular occupation of the Bodo tribes. All the exquisite products that these Bodo tribes have created over the years have been the main force of enabling the Bodo tribal community to reach to its zenith. Several Bodo families rear their own silkworms, the cocoons of which are then spun into silk. Amongst the Bodo tribal females, weaving has gained fame and popularity. Since a very early age, these Bodo girls learn the art of weaving, and thus loom is an inseparably thing in the courtyard of a Bodo house . The Bodo tribal community has also developed craftsmanship in creating several products from things like bamboo.
Dresses of the Bodo tribal community are quite exquisite, thereby, exhilaring the beauty and glamour of females to a wide extent. The conventional dress of a Bodo female is popularly called Dokna, which these Bodo women knit on their own hands only. Shawls also are in fashion of the Bodo tribal community.
Just like many of the tribal communities, these Bodo tribes too have developed inclination for religion and all the other forms of spiritualism also. Various worships are being arranged with exotic dancing and music forming an integral part of it. Instances can also be cited. During the time of Kheria puja , almost all the Bodo girls execute the Kherai dance. Drummers too elevate the mood of frenzy during that time.
Also there are various religious practices and beliefs have been adapted by all the Bodo tribal people over the years. In the ancient years, Bodo tribes fete their ancestors. However, in the contemporary period, these Bodo tribes have undertaken the diverse practices like Bathouism, Hinduism. To be precise, Bathouism is a special type of worship of progenitors , better known as Obonglaoree. As a symbol of Bathou , the siju plant , which belongs to the Euphorbia genus, is widely worshipped with lots of veneration. Near the household courtyard of a Bodo tribe, a cleanse surface has been considered to be fit for worship. Offerings like a pair of Betelnut called `goi` and betel leaf , known as `pathwi` are being made . On several occasions, offerings include rice, milk, and sugar. For the Kherai Puja, the most significant festival of the Bodo tribal community, the altar is to be found in the rice field. Other important festivals of the Bodo tribes include Garja, Hapsa Hatarnai, Awnkham Gwrlwi Janai, Bwisagu and Domashi.
Like many of the tribal communities of Indian subcontinent, these Bodo tribes have got orientation towards religion as well as spiritualism. Despite the advancement of Hinduism amongst the Bodo tribal community, the majority of Bodo Hindus follow a set of rules called Brahma Dharma who does not follow mainstream Indian practices like caste and dowry.
Further, some interesting points have been inferred by the anthropologists, which have carried on surveys on their lives. These Bodo tribal community speak the language , having the same name. In the Bodo Language Ba means five and thou means deep. Five is a significant number in the Bathou religion.
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