Culture and Tradition

Festival

Busu Dima Festival

Busu Dima, also known as Bishu Dima, is an annual cultural festival observed by the Dimasa Kachari tribe of India. It holds significant importance as the primary harvesting festival, marking the culmination of the grain harvest in various villages. Typically, the festival occurs in January, symbolizing the abundance and prosperity brought by the successful harvest season.

Jidaap

Jidaap is a specific variant of the Busu festival that spans over two days. During Jidaap, the community engages in various rituals, ceremonies, and festivities to commemorate the harvest season's conclusion. It is a time of jubilation and festivity, marked by traditional dances, music, and feasting.

Surem Baino

Surem Baino is another form of the Busu festival celebrated over a period of five days. This extended duration allows for more elaborate ceremonies, rituals, and cultural performances. It provides an opportunity for the community to come together over an extended period, strengthening bonds and fostering a sense of unity and belonging.

Hangshu Busu

Hangshu Busu represents the most extensive variant of the Busu festival, lasting for a total of seven days. This prolonged celebration allows for a deeper immersion into the cultural traditions and customs associated with the harvest festival. It provides ample time for various activities, including traditional games, storytelling sessions, and religious ceremonies, further enriching the cultural experience for participants.

Dance

Baidima Dance

The Baidima dance is one of the most significant traditional dances of the Dimasa tribe. It is often performed during harvesting festivals, especially the Busu Dima festival. This dance involves young boys and girls dressed in colorful Dimasa attire, gracefully moving to the rhythm of traditional music. The dance is characterized by gentle, swaying movements, with dancers placing their hands on their waists and moving in a rhythmic up-and-down motion.

Baihawar Dance

Baihawar is another traditional dance form of the Dimasa tribe, often performed during cultural events and festivities. This dance is known for its energetic and lively movements,accompanied by rhythmic drum beats and traditional musical instruments. Dancers showcase their agility and coordination through intricate footwork and dynamic gestures, captivating the audience with their exuberant performances.

Baidembra Dance

Baidembra is a folk dance popular among the Dimasa community, particularly in the Hojai district of Assam. Similar to other Dimasa dances, Baidembra is characterized by fluid movements and graceful choreography. Dancers often depict scenes from Dimasa mythology and folklore, bringing these stories to life through their expressive movements and gestures.

Baidijuwa Dance

Baidijuwa is a variant of the Baidima dance performed by the Dimasa people residing in Dimapur, Nagaland. Like the traditional Baidima dance, Baidijuwa features dancers adorned in elaborate traditional attire, performing graceful movements to the accompaniment of traditional music and songs. This dance form showcases the cultural diversity and regional variations within the Dimasa community.

Baimaijai / Baijaba Dance Baimaijai or Baijaba is a cultural performance that involves the use of a stone sieve, a traditional implement once used for agricultural purposes. This unique dance form, associated with the Dimasa-inhabited areas of Dima Hasao, Cachar, Hojai, Dimapur, and Karbi Anglong districts, incorporates rhythmic movements and percussive sounds created by the stone sieve, adding a distinct flavor to Dimasa folk culture.

Song

Hesoja

Hesoja is a traditional Dimasa folk song sung during various ceremonies and rituals, such as weddings, childbirth, and festivals. These songs typically feature poetic lyrics that celebrate love, nature, and the joys and sorrows of life. Hesoja songs are often sung in a call-and-response format, with a lead singer and chorus, creating a sense of unity and participation among the community members.

Lalong

Lalong is another popular genre of Dimasa folk songs, characterized by its rhythmic beats and lively tunes. These songs are often accompanied by traditional musical instruments like the drum (muri), flute (sarinda), and bamboo xylophone (kham). Lalong songs are sung during social gatherings, agricultural activities, and cultural events, bringing people together and fostering a sense of camaraderie.

Lajwaigi

Lajwaigi songs are sung by Dimasa women during domestic chores, such as grinding grains, weaving, and cooking. These songs not only help pass the time but also serve as a form of entertainment and companionship among women. Lajwaigi songs often have simple melodies and repetitive lyrics, reflecting the rhythm of daily life in Dimasa households.

Hachari

Hachari songs are traditional ballads that recount heroic tales, myths, and legends from Dimasa folklore. These songs celebrate the bravery of Dimasa warriors, the beauty of their land, and the supernatural beings that inhabit their mythical universe. Hachari songs are passed down orally from generation to generation, preserving the tribe’s cultural heritage and identity.

Jhumer Jhumer is a genre of Dimasa folk songs performed during festive occasions, especially the Busu Dima festival. These songs are accompanied by energetic dance movements and rhythmic clapping, creating a lively and jubilant atmosphere. Jhumer songs often celebrate the spirit of community, unity, and togetherness, reflecting the collective joy of the Dimasa people during festive celebrations.