About Rabha Tribe of Assam free essay sample

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. We will write a custom essay sample on About Rabha Tribe of Assam or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page 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, tematshe hoi aiya tshitsora. aiya tshitsora tontshera doNa tematsha hoi aiya tshitsora. Oh Goddess earth, please satisfy our heartiest salutation and listen to our humble prayers. Oh mother, bless us with grain and wealth. Oh mother, we are the descendents of marukhetri Tukuria geet is another significant folk song related to religious festival. Tukuria geet is sung at the time of worshipping tukuriadeo (Goddess). In this ballad like song, the description of langadevata (mahadeva) , narayani (parbati), kashulkumari, supuni, ghardeboti, rathawali kachaikhaiti, dudhkwari, subsani ( nine sisters ) and gosani, coming down from heaven along with herkapeta (ganesh) with the intention of worship is enunciated. (b) Songs connected with the rites of passage: The Rabha society has a wide-ranging numbers of folksongs connected with the rites of passage. Among these, mention may be made of to-tekamni tsay (Marriage related), pharkanti (folk song related to death ceremony), etc. Pharkanti is a folk song presented in sradha ceremony. This kind of folk tradition is found in Maitori and Rongdani sub-groups. A part of pharkanti song is given below: tondoleka ana ana korok korok khara ato dzonOm rano ure naNtshe phamana oh bhai mansheleNka naNTtshe phamana. Oh kingfisher, you know what our brother will be born as (C) Seasonal song: Since time immemorial, the agrarian society of the Rabha follows different agriculture or season related festivals, where the pan picture of society is depicted through a variety of songs. Among these mention may be made of bhaluk notshuwar geet (Bear dance), Ori / arimaga geet (bagging song), hatshoN puja geet, Grimbuda, etc. e. g. : ori/arimoga geet-Ori or Arimoga geet is associated with begging, i. e. , a group of children go from house to house singing in order to collect remuneration or money. This kind of folk song is prevalent among Pati Rabhas. A part of Ori or arimoga geet is given below:- ahiluNre orene mahalaksmir tshorone m ahalaksmir ditshe bor dhan topata olai por we have come wandering, to the feet of goddess laksmi, please offer us something in the name of laksmi who is blessing you (d) Songs of love and yearning: Songs of love and yearning (pronoigandhi geet) are very popular among the Rabha’s. Among these songs mention may be made of sathar geet bahuraNi geet, Baikho-trokkay geet. e. g. : sathar geet: The ‘sathar geet’ is sung in baikhu festival. bhogobano urgino bhog-tultshirai nukbarkaiyo urgino tshale rumal phulo rai hurtshai hurtshai Submit to the almighty with ‘tulsi’ submit to the dear ones with floral rumal i. e. handkerchief Baikho-trokkay is another significant love and yearning song sung in Baikho worship. The Maitory and Rongdani Rabha’s specially sing this song. The young boys and girls generally present it.