Sarania Kachari

The Sarania Kachari is one of a major enthnic community in Assam and are also found in other states of Northeast India. People are predominantly inhabitants of Goalpara, Baksa, Kamrup, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Sibsagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Tinisukia and Dibrugarh district of Assam. Their population is estimated at 7 lakh (7,00,000). Assam is the land of diverse ethnicity, starting from Mongoloid, Tibeto-Burmese, Aryan, Dravidian all the diverse ethnic groups have been melted in a special pot named Assam. As far as the recognised history confirms, the early settlers in these areas descends from Tibeto-Burmese origins. They were known as Bodo people at that time.

From the historical point of view, Sarania Kachari were Kirats or Bodo-Kachari in origin. The Sarania Kacharis are a section of hinduised people of the Bodo tribe. Sarania Kachari belonged to Mongoloid racial stock like other tribal communities living in Assam.

Food

Rice is a staple food of the Sarania Kachari. Traditionally Sarania Kachari are non-vegetarians. Some of the varieties of indigenous drinks of Sarania Kacharis are: - Mod and Mera made-up of rice.

Textiles and ornaments

Sarania Kachari men often prefer to wear ‘Dhuti-Kurta’ and decorated 'Gamusa’ (Muksha). Weaving and cultivation are integral part of Sarania Kachari culture. Many Sarania Kachari families rear their own silkworms, the cocoons of which are then spun into silk. Sarania Kachari girls learn to weave from a young age. Most Sarania Kachari women weave their own “Mekhela Sadar” (the traditional dress of the Sarania Kachari women) and “Gamocha” (Muksha) for Sarania Kachari men. The Sarania Kachari are also expert craftsmen in bamboo.

Religion

The traditional religion of the Sarania Kacharis is Hinduism. Every Sarania Kachari village has an identical Namghor that follows strict religious rituals and customs. Sarania Kachari worship household deities to maintain peace in their family and community worship for the welfare of the society. ‘Bah-Gossain Puja’, ‘Bator Puja’, ‘Maju Puja’, ‘Sidra Gossani Puja’, ‘Jal Kuwari Puja’ ‘Hungkar Bhanga Puja’, ‘Sop Bhanga Puja’ etc.

Festivals

“Bah Gossain Puja” (Bamboo God) is the most important festival of Sarania Kachari. The other important festivals of Sarania Kachari are Bihu (Bohag Bihu, Kati Bihu and Magh Bihu), “Bambolpita” or “Heporpita Utsav”, “Mah-kheda Utsav” etc.

Marriage systems

Monogamy is the most popular form of marriage but acquiring more than one wives is permissible if the first wife gives her consent to it due to some reasons. In the present day Sarania Kachari society has five type of marriages performed among them are - (1) Prajapatya Bibah, (2) Gandharba Bibah, (3) Ghor-Jowai, (4) Sowalir Ga-Jasi Howa Bibah and (5) Polowai Nia Bibah.

Sarania Kachari Community of Assam related website :www.saraniakachari.cuccfree.org