Cultural Identity - the Deori Bihu Dance of Assam

Of the different tribes of Assam living in her different parts, the Deoris are also one. They are the main and essential division of the Chutias of Assam. In course of their life’s journey, they have faced various trials and tribulations in their social and political fields. But despite the same, they have been able to maintain their old traditions, religious beliefs and practices as before. However, the original abode of the Deoris was on the bank of the river Kundil. But at present they have settled “in the riverine areas of Lakhimpur, Dibrugarh, Sibsagar, Jorhat and Sonitpur districts of Assam.” The Deoris have three main divisions as __ The Dibongia, the Tengapania and the Bargayan.
Like other tribes of Assam, the centribution of the Deoris to the Assamese culture is by no means poor. Their different fairs and festivals have enriched our culture. The Deoris observe two major festivals during a year. One of them is “Bohagiyo Bisu”, i.e. Bohag Bihu, while the other is “Magiyo Bihu” i.e., Magh Bihu. They have some special rules for the Bihu Festivals. The Bohagiyo Bihu is the most important one and the Deoris like the Assamese observe this festival for a period of seven days with unlimited joy and merry makings. Generally they start it from Wednesday when the “Sangkranti” of “Chot” falls on that day.
On the first day of the festival the Deoris offer a Puja in a “Than”. It must be mentioned here that both the Bihu festivals of the Deoris are connected with the agricultural activities and so they are observed rightly before staring the agricultural operations in the fields. The Deoris must sacrifice a goat in the Bihu Puja. The ceremonial bathing of the animals take place in the morning of the day of the Bihu Puja. It is on this day, the “Suwasani Puja” is duly observed by each and every household. Thus the household deity is prayed in the “Suwasani” room by the headman of each household for the welfare of the members of the family.
In the midday all the villagers irrespective of age and sex go to the “Than” and gather there for getting sacred water and “Prasads”. First they are purified by the sacred water prepared in the “Than” and then the Bor Deori of the Than distributes “Prasads” among them after his due prayers inside the same. The sacrifices of birds and beasts as goats, ducks and fowls are performed duly and after the puja only the male people of the village take part in the feast.
During the Bihu the elderly people of the village do visit all the households of the village and shower blessings on the members of the households. In return the members of each household greet them well and entertain them with “Suze” and “Khaji”. Meanwhile the young, both male and female do not remain idle. The young male arrange Husari party for them while the young females arrange Husari party for them separately. On the second day of the Bihu the dancing srarts from the “Than” and then the parties go on visiting each and every household. They first visit the house of the Bor Deori who is the best respected person of the village. However, the Husari party wishes the members of the household a prosperous year and then the party comes back to the than with different Bihu greetings. The musical instruments used by the Husari party are mainly dance is followed by melodious songs which make the situation filled up with un-restricted joy and merry-makings.
The Bihu dances are performed in each household of the village. If the singing of the Husari songs cannot be completed on Thursday, then it is kept for the next Sunday. In big Deori villages the Bohag Bihu seems to last for a period of two weeks. The Deodhani dance is a very important and essential part of the Bohag Bihu. Dr. Moheswar Neog opines that Deodhani is a holy female dance or a god’s woman. However, during the Bohag Bihu no man is allowed to go into the Than wearing either red or black clothes.