“symbolism of Ethnicity” “porag” – the Dance Festival of the Miris or the Mishings of Assam

Like “Ali-Ai-Ligang” festival, “Porag” is also an important spring time festival of the Miris or the Mishings. Generally the youths of the Miris observe this festival in co-operation with the public after harvesting the crops from the field in order to appease the Almighty, mother earth and their fore fathers and thereby wish blessing from their side in return. This festival is also called the “Nara Singa Bihu”.
Pora is a festival of songs and dances. Both the young boys and girls put on their traditional dresses and take part in the dancing and singing along with the rhythmic beating of drums. Thus the whole village atmosphere is surcharged with the echoes and re-echoes of the songs and the drum beatings.
It may be mentioned that the songs of the festival are composed on the basis of agriculture, while the dances are created in imitation of the dance postures of the agricultural works.
The youth organization of the Miris make necessary arrangements for the festival which they do it in a formal and systematic manner called “Daghik”. At first the “Morung” is renovated for celebrating the festival. Then the tie- beams and the posts of the same are also decorated splendidly. In this case it is seen that in some villages the system of decorating them has been rung out and a new one has been rung in.
As arranged and appointed the officers as Migam Bora and Bar Puwary etc. like others do the needful for the smooth functioning of the festival. Large quantities of food stuffs and drink are arranged much in advance. The host village invites the villagers from nearby Mishing villages to participate in the festival as “Ninams” or guests. Those who come to the festival accepting the invitation are cordially received and taken to the Morung from the way through the Gumrag dance.
The Miris observe the Porag festival for a period of five days. In ancient time a “Miboo” was appointed who took the leadership for the functioning of the festival. But now- a –days his place is taken my Migam Mora and Bar puwary under whom there are some high and low officers as DekaBora, Tiri Bora, Tamuli and Bar Barani who assist them to run function well.
At the fag end of the Porag festival a grand feast is arranged by sacrificing at least four or five pigs where all the villagers take part. The festival comes to an end with a prayer dance which is known as “Ponu Nunam”.

Select Bibliographry

1. Bhattacharya. P.C. – 1999 – Asamar Janajati.
2. Bordoloi B.N., Thakur Sarma, G. C Saikia, M.C. Saikia –1987 – Tribes of Assam, Part-l
3. Sarma N.C. –2000 – Axamar Samskriti Samiksa.
4. Rajbongshi Paramananda, Das Narayan – 2003 – Asamiya Jati Aru Sanskrtti
5. Rajbongshi Paramananda – 1996 Asamiya Samskrtitir Kanika
6. Barman Sadananda – 2003 – Asamar Bhinna Gosthir Samskriti
7. Sarma Nabin Chandra – 2003 / Axamar Samskrti- Samiksa.