About Rabha Tribe of Assam
VIII. LITERATURE
4.1 ORAL:
Like other ethnic tribal groups of the North East India and Assam, the Rabha tribe also have their own distinct language, literature and culture, which they express through mythology, folk songs, ballads, proverbs, etc. This community has rich oral literature, which passes from generation to generation.
The Rabha oral literature can be classified into three major groups- namely (1). Folk songs, (2). Proverbs, riddles, sayings and charms, and (3). Folk-tales.
Folk Songs:
The Rabha oral literature is endowed with rich and variegated folk songs. Such traditional songs are basically found in the subgroups such as Maitory, Rongdani, Kocha, Pati, Dahuri, Totola etc., who have retained their traditional faith and dialects. Rabha folk songs can be classified into the following categories: (a) Songs associated with worship, fair and festivals; (b) Songs connected with the rites of passage; (c) Seasonal songs; (d) Songs of love and yearning; (e) Songs associated with merriment; (f) Songs associated with agriculture; (g) Work songs and (h) Miscellaneous songs.
(a) Songs associated with worship, fair and festivals:
Seasonal fair and religious festivals are common in Rabha Society. These religious festivals are especially arranged for agricultural purposes.
Among these religious festivals the worship of khoktshi or baikhu is very significant. It is primarily a dance and song based festival, organized before the commencement of the agricultural activities of the year. The festival begins with wishing each other a happy new year and in the memory of dodan and marukhetri. Deities like khoktshima, bairaNgiri, mairaNgiri, etc. are also individually worshiped, where praise-worthy huimaru or baikhu song of dodan and marukhetri, daduri, tshutsari,dzimari are sung through out the night. Beside these, sathar song is also sung by the youths. The specimen of the song is quoted below: - hoi aiya tshitsora aiya tshitsora tolotshi porano dONa,
4.1 ORAL:
Like other ethnic tribal groups of the North East India and Assam, the Rabha tribe also have their own distinct language, literature and culture, which they express through mythology, folk songs, ballads, proverbs, etc. This community has rich oral literature, which passes from generation to generation.
The Rabha oral literature can be classified into three major groups- namely (1). Folk songs, (2). Proverbs, riddles, sayings and charms, and (3). Folk-tales.
Folk Songs:
The Rabha oral literature is endowed with rich and variegated folk songs. Such traditional songs are basically found in the subgroups such as Maitory, Rongdani, Kocha, Pati, Dahuri, Totola etc., who have retained their traditional faith and dialects. Rabha folk songs can be classified into the following categories: (a) Songs associated with worship, fair and festivals; (b) Songs connected with the rites of passage; (c) Seasonal songs; (d) Songs of love and yearning; (e) Songs associated with merriment; (f) Songs associated with agriculture; (g) Work songs and (h) Miscellaneous songs.
(a) Songs associated with worship, fair and festivals:
Seasonal fair and religious festivals are common in Rabha Society. These religious festivals are especially arranged for agricultural purposes.
Among these religious festivals the worship of khoktshi or baikhu is very significant. It is primarily a dance and song based festival, organized before the commencement of the agricultural activities of the year. The festival begins with wishing each other a happy new year and in the memory of dodan and marukhetri. Deities like khoktshima, bairaNgiri, mairaNgiri, etc. are also individually worshiped, where praise-worthy huimaru or baikhu song of dodan and marukhetri, daduri, tshutsari,dzimari are sung through out the night. Beside these, sathar song is also sung by the youths. The specimen of the song is quoted below: - hoi aiya tshitsora aiya tshitsora tolotshi porano dONa,