Karam Puja: A vibrant celebration of Assam’s tea community

Dipak Kurmi

(The writer can be reached at dipaknewslive@gmail.com.)

Assam is a diverse state in eastern India with many different groups of people. One of the important groups in Assam is called the “tea tribe.” They have a special festival called “Karam Puja,” which is their main national celebration. Karam Puja is mainly about farming, and it’s a big part of the tea tribe’s life. This festival has been a part of their culture for a long time, and it’s connected to their traditions and customs.

The tea community in Assam celebrates Karam Puja as a fertility festival because it represents agriculture and growth, which are essential for tea workers. Karam Puja is observed for different durations in different locations, ranging from 3 to 7 days. This festival is celebrated three times a year, each with a different name. There are three Karam festivals celebrated at different times of the year:

1. “Jitiya Karam” happens on Shukla Ekadashi in the month of Bhad.

2. “Budhi Karam” takes place on Vijaya Dashami in the month of Ahin.

3. “Ras Jhumur” occurs on the full moon of the month of Aghon.

Among these, “Jitiya Karam” is celebrated with the most grandeur and enthusiasm.

Karam Puja is a festival that focuses mainly on women. Young women, known as “Karamati,” play a significant role in its rituals. A few days before Karam Puja, these young women go to the riverbank with two small new bamboo baskets, wash their feet in the river, and prepare a special spot. They set up a place for worship called “thapana” and light incense, candles, and flowers. They offer prayers to the god Karam and fill their baskets with sand. Then, they plant various crops like beets, rice, peas, groundnuts, wheat, soybeans, and beans, hoping for them to grow abundantly. This act is called “jawadhara” or “jhawadhara,” depending on the place. They also make offerings to Lord Ganesha to protect the crops from pests, and these crops continue to grow until the day of Karam Puja.

Starting from the day of Jawadhara until Karam Puja, the women from the Jawadhara household light candles and incense in the evening to wake up Jawa. During this time, young women must strictly follow certain sacred religious rules. There’s an old belief that breaking these rules will affect the freshness of the sprouted crop. The rules include not eating cooked food, avoiding oil-garlic soups and sweets, staying away from hot food, refraining from scratching with fingers, not combing their hair, not consuming vegetarian food, and sleeping without turning or tossing at night. It’s considered a Karamati’s duty to adhere to these specific rules. If they are not followed, the jawa might wither, harm the sprouts, turn pink, or spoil.

To begin the Jawa awakening ritual, branches are taken from the Karam or Chika Morlia tree. This tree is painted before the puja, and a beautiful altar is set up in the courtyard. In some places, you’ll also find bamboo stems and branches from Jari trees near the Karam tree. This particular Karam Puja is known as “Dal Karam.” The first part of the bamboo is cut into small pieces and buried in the ground to make it look like a flower. The main puja ceremony starts in the evening. Initially, incense, candles, and lanterns are lit on the worship altar. Fruits and flowers, along with the previously awakened Java, are offered. Then, the storyteller, who is also the priest for the puja, gathers the fasting women around the altar and narrates the story of how Karam Puja came to be and the tale of Karma and Dharma, the founders of Karam Puja.

The Karamatis go around the god Karam’s altar seven times and perform aarti. While doing this, they are tied to a branch of a Karam tree and wear new garlic garments. They also answer questions from the priests. Afterward, the Karamatis serve the god and the priest and make their wishes. Once the puja is over, they start giving out prasad (blessed food). The tea community then enjoys a lot of fun, dancing, and singing. This dance and song performance is known as “Jhumur Nach” or “Jhumur Geet.” These Jhumur songs talk about different aspects of the tea community’s life.

The following morning, at sunrise, the women, along with the priest, gently took the branch from the altar and respectfully placed it into a pond or river. They dance and sing to the rhythm of drums while doing this. In the evening, the women light candles and lanterns near the spot where they left the Karam remains and cover it with some earth. This special place is called “Ghara Bhata.”

The youth from the tea community are the main celebrants of Karam Puja. The Karam Puja tradition includes an important dance called “Jhumur dance,” and this festival is not complete without jhumur songs and dances. Many of these songs convey messages of love and affection.

Karam Puja is a very important traditional ceremony in Assam and a vital part of the Tea Tribe’s lives. It brings a fresh start to their lives, filling them with joy and uplifting their spirits. This festival mainly involves women and is focused on promoting the fertility of nature, the growth of crops, getting rid of negative influences in society, and bringing prosperity to the community. It’s rooted in folklore and will continue to be celebrated for generations to come.