BOKO: People of the Rabha community from Roumari village celebrated their traditional ‘Langamara Puja’ festival on Saturday. They observed many rituals which include animal sacrifice, preparing and offering rice beer during the Langamara Puja. It is to be mentioned that, Rabha tribal people worship different kinds of stones, rocks, hills, rivers, Goddesses along with some other malevolent and benevolent spirits. During the Langamara Puja, Rabha people worship rocks by offering chicken heads after sacrifice, rice, incense, clay candles and traditionally-made rice beer.
A villager Sadhu Charan Rabha said, “They worship Ombha Burha, Kamakhya, Khukshi and Gorkho Gohain. Naren Rabha and Sarbeswar Rabha are the main priests of the puja. On this occasion, every villager clean their houses. After that they pray to the gods and offer rice beers, a pair of chicken, duck or goat.”
Hundreds of villagers belonging from the Rabha community take part in the puja. Many Rabha people inhabited in villages of Boko which include Hahim, Mousua, Dekapara, Sukuniapara, Gamerimura, etc celebrated the puja on Saturday.
Raju Rabha, president of the village said, “As per the instructions by the All Rabha National Council, Rabha people should celebrate the puja on the first Saturday of the Assamese ‘Jeth’ month.”
Raju also added that the main motive of the puja are welfare and development of the people. Since the time of our forefathers, this puja has been performed, and as a result, the Rabha people guard the neighbouring forest lands, Raju Rabha added.
Kamburam Rabha, vice president of the Kamrup Zila Parishad said, “This is an important festival which is held in the midst of a jungle or at a river bank. God is propitiated to welcome happiness and to expel the evils. This puja is basically celebrated by Pati Rabhas and is one of the important occasions which deserves to be called a festival. This propitiation is done either in the forest or near the bank of the rivulet with two aims namely to achieve abundant crops and ward off evil influences on humans and animals.”
Rabha tribes celebrate many festivals and pujas, which include Baikho Festival, Farkhanthi Festival, Hamjar, Dinga Puja, Marei Puja, Dodan Mela etc.
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