Culture and Tradition

Festivals

Baikho Festival

This is the most significant festival for the Rabha tribe. It is a springtime festival dedicated to the worship of Baikho, a deity associated with wealth and prosperity. The festival involves various rituals, traditional dances, and the lighting of bonfires.

Swarak Festival

Celebrated with great enthusiasm, the Swarak festival involves various cultural programs, including traditional music and dance performances. It is a time for the community to come together and celebrate their cultural heritage.

Harni Festival

This is a harvest festival that marks the end of the agricultural season. The Rabha people celebrate it with traditional rituals, feasts, and cultural activities to thank the deities for a bountiful harvest.

Dance

Farkranti Dance

This dance originated from a tragic event in Rabha history. When many Rabha men went to war and died, their wives, inexperienced in warfare, went searching for them. Lost and desperate, they were guided by the souls of their husbands in the form of birds, leading them to the battlefield where they found their husbands’ bodies. As a tribute to their bravery and as a promise to protect their clan, the women perform the Farkranti dance. Female dancers wield swords and shields, while male dancers carry the emblem of the Rabhas, Manchelengka.

Hamjhar Dance

Reflecting Rabha’s agrarian lifestyle, the Hamjhar dance involves using agricultural tools as props while dancing. It symbolizes the communal aspect of their agricultural work, where they come together, sharing songs and music, to make their work easier and more enjoyable.

Bahurangi Dance

Originating from the story of two sisters who resorted to begging after losing their parents, the Bahurangi dance is performed by female Rabhas. After completing their daily chores, they gather to dance to the tune of an Assamese song. It serves as a form of entertainment and a way for the women to bond and express themselves artistically.

Sathar Dance

Similar to the Assamese Bihu dance, the Sathar dance is performed by Rabha youths. It is a joyful and vibrant dance where young Rabha people come together to celebrate and choose their life partners. The dance is accompanied by traditional music and is often performed during festivals and special occasions.

Dhabai Dance

Before heading into battle, Rabha warriors perform the Dhabai dance. This ritualistic dance serves to boost their confidence and bravery as they prepare to confront their enemies. Dancers wield weapons during the performance, symbolizing their readiness for combat and their determination to defend their community.

Khokchi Dance:

The Khokchi dance is performed as part of the Chuchari puja, dedicated to the goddess Khokchi. It is a dangerous and intense dance performed around a fire to appease the goddess and seek her blessings. The dancers’ movements are vigorous and spirited, reflecting their devotion and reverence towards the deity.

Hachang Dance

Following the completion of agricultural activities, Rabha people perform the Hachang dance as a form of thanksgiving and prayer for blessings. It is a joyful and lively dance where they express their gratitude to God for a successful harvest and seek his blessings for themselves and their livestock.

Pangba Dance

The Pangba dance is performed to appease the god Pangba and to ward off rheumatism, which is believed to be a punishment inflicted by the deity. The dance involves rhythmic movements and gestures aimed at pleasing the god and seeking his protection from ailments and misfortunes.

Shiva Darmang Dance

In reverence to Shiva, who is considered the creator by the Rabhas, they perform the Shiva Darmang dance. It is a devotional dance where they express their gratitude and devotion to Shiva through rhythmic movements and traditional music.

Na-bana Dance

Reflecting their tradition of community fishing, Rabha people perform the Na-bana dance. Dancers carry fishing equipment and perform synchronized movements to depict the process of fishing. It is a celebratory dance that symbolizes their reliance on and harmony with nature.

Hanaghora Dance

Exclusive to the Hana Rabhas, the Hanaghora dance is performed to satisfy the god Langa-bura (Shiva). The dance features a horse made of cane and bamboo, with a dancer mimicking the movements of a horse while singing songs praising the god.

Ojapali Dance

The Ojapali dance is performed as part of the Maraipuja to honor the goddess Padmawati, also known as Barmani or Bisha Hari. Led by a main dancer called Oja, accompanied by palies (companions), the dance is a vibrant and energetic expression of devotion and reverence towards the goddess.

Dhaowa Dance

Dhaowa dance is a traditional dance performed by the Rabha tribe of Assam.

The Dhaowa Dance is performed ceremonially just before the Rabha warriors set out for the battlefield. This dance form symbolises the bravery and undaunted spirit of the Rabha people that defies defeat or even death. It is typically performed during festivals and special occasions. Dhaowa dance is characterized by rhythmic movements accompanied by traditional music played on instruments like drums, flutes, and horns. The dance often depicts themes from Rabha folklore and culture, celebrating aspects of their heritage and daily life.

Song

Rabha Lokageet These are songs that reflect the cultural ethos, traditions, and daily life experiences of the Rabha community. They often narrate stories of love, nature, and community events. The lyrics are typically in the Rabha language and are accompanied by traditional musical instruments such as the dhol, pepa, and taal.

Oraon & Rabha Geet

This refers to a genre of folk songs that are shared between the Oraon and Rabha tribes. These songs are a testament to the cultural exchanges and shared heritage between these two communities. They may touch upon themes of unity, solidarity, and mutual respect.

Tusu Geet

Tusu is a winter festival celebrated by various tribes in Assam, including the Rabha community. Tusu Geet are songs sung during this festival, which typically falls in January. The songs are dedicated to the Tusu goddess and often depict agricultural themes, prayers for a good harvest, and festivities associated with the festival.

Oja Paal Geet:

Oja Paal is a traditional form of music and storytelling among the Rabha tribe. Oja refers to the storyteller or singer, while Paal means song or tune. Oja Paal Geet are narrative songs that convey myths, legends, historical events, and moral teachings of the Rabha culture. They are often performed during social gatherings, festivals, and rituals.

Bhaona Geet:

Bhaona is a traditional form of Assamese theater that combines elements of drama, music, and dance. Bhaona Geet are songs sung during Bhaona performances by the Rabha community. These songs serve to enhance the storytelling aspect of the Bhaona and are often composed in a style that evokes emotions and enhances the dramatic impact of the narrative.