A human social behaviour on bell metal products concerning Assamese culture

Sanjib Kumar Sarma

(sanjibsarmabajali@gmail.com)

The bell metal products occupy a special place in Assamese society. The products are important household assets and are extensively used in household activities, marriage ceremonies and religious rituals. Different types of musical instruments and decorative items are prepared from bell metal. Bell metal products form a major part of the household utensils of more or less all the Assamese families. Kahi, bati, baan bati, bota, taal etc., of bell metals, are an integral part of rural society. It is believed the habit of copper in products is scientific.

The utensils of bell metal are not only used for a specific purpose but also form a part of Assamese social behaviour and cultural heritage. Most of the families extensively use different types of products in social functions. To invite welcome bota is in use. To offer something as a token of love and respect to a person, bota is in use as a memento. From the ceremonies of birth to the death of human beings, the use of bell metal products is indispensable in Assamese society. In annaprshana (the act of offering the first meal of rice to a child) the parents use to offer a new set of kahi, bati, glass etc. In the Churakarana (the ceremony of tonsure) and upanayana ceremonies among the Brahmin's bell metal products are used. The boy who is going tohave churakarana or upanayana or marriage has to keep a daponi (a flat-shaped bell metal item) with him. In the marriage ceremony, during the mandhora function, the newly married couple used to felicitate the elders with presents as a mark of respect and the younger one as taken of love. On this occasion, bota or sorai are used to give presents. Due to such an extent of bell metal products, the bianaams by women folk at the time of panitola function, name of bell metal vassals like bati, kalah, ghoti are referenced. In some marriage songs, the women exhibit the bell vassals name panitola function. For example:-

"Chotalote ogi-dogi o,

hori majiyate bati,

Ule aaha baror mayek putra aahe rati.

Uile aana pitalar kalah

bhanga phuta chau,

Aaru aana kanhar-ghoti lota

Bapur biyar pani tulba jau,"

The bell metal products have a close relationship with the religious rituals of Assamese society. Bell metal products are deeply associated with Vaishnavism. No religious rituals are possible in Assam without the use of bell metal items. The aashana, tilinga, barkanh, dobakanh, bigrah, taal etc., made of bell metal utensils are extensively used as xatras, mandirs and devalayas of Assam. The priests often read out the religious scriptures before an assemblage by keeping bota. For doing naam prasanga (prayer), bhortaals are used by devotees. The other uses of bell metal products are used in schools, colleges and police stations to keep time and these are rung to specify the times.

Musical instruments made of bell metals are used in cultural ceremonies. The instruments mainly consist of cymbals of different types along with barkanh, dobakanh etc. Bhortaal is used in the performance of namprasanga along with nagara naam, juna naam (devotional song) and paalnaam (devotional song). Khutitaal is used by the Ojha-Pali. Cymbals are also used in Bihu Dance, the most popular form of folk dance in Assam. In the Bihu song too, references to the profession of smithy are made. A Bihu song, which reflects the life of kanhar is:

" Tomak tamul diya botakhoni,

Senaire hturir bol.

Juwabeli Bahagat moke garhai disile,

Mordhon behaaloi gol."

It narrates the products of Kanhars, which in his symbol of love and indirectly refers to the act of shifting to a distant place.

The people of other neighbouring states and countries have expressed a great sense of love and respect for the bell metal products of Assam. For example, the Daflas of Arunachal Pradesh favoured dafla kahi, bati etc. The Buddhist countries like Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet are fond of bell metal products of Assam.