Sonowal Kachari people

Sonowal Kachari people
Total population
235,881[1]
Regions with significant populations
Predominantly in Upper Assam;
Languages
Assamese
Religion
Ekasarana Dharma[2]
Related ethnic groups

The Sonowal Kachari are one of the indigenous peoples of the state of Assam in Northeast India. They are of Tibeto-Burman origin, and are closely associated with the other ethnic groups of Assam, which are commonly referred to as Kachari. Today, they are predominantly inhabitants of Dhemaji, North Lakhimpur, Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts of Assam, along with pocket populations in Jorhat, Sivsagar, Golaghat district of Assam and in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. The headquarters of the Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council is at Dibrugarh.

Etymology

The name Sonowal comes from the word 'Son' (Assamese: Xon) which means gold in Assamese.[web 1]The traditional occupation of the Sonowal kacharis was gold panning, that is extracting gold from the riverbeds.[web 1][3] The Kacharis those were appointed as gold-washers by the Ahom kings were organised into Sonowal Khel. These Kacharis came to be known as Sonowal Kacharis.[4]

History

As per the book Ahomar Din, the ancestors of Sonowal Kacharis arrived from Lower Assam with the army of the Koch King Nara Narayan and Gohain Kamal in the 16th century and settled in Sadiya over time.[5] Most of these Sonowal Kacharis migrated from Sadiya during the early 19th century and resided in the forested area between the Buri Dihing and Dibru rivers of Matak territories.[6] The Sonowals share certain place-name traditions, such as Halali and Dimapur, with the Dimasa community. These locations are referenced in Sonowal Haidang geet (traditional songs)[7], while Dimasa oral traditions similarly recount a migration from the Nilachal Hills to Halali before finally settling in Dimapur.[8] Haidang geet also recall Sonowals mixing with hill tribes like Daflas, Mishing and Abor, forming a clan system before finally settling in Sadiya.

Festivals

Khring Khring Baitho Puja

Khring Khring Baitho Puja or Baithow Puja or Khring Khring Baithaw Puja is a traditional religious festival celebrated by the Sonowal Kachari people. Khring Khring Baitho Puja is an agricultural religious festival of the Sonowal Kachari people and marks the beginning of their traditional New Year. The festival is observed at a traditional temple known as the Baitho Than and is accompanied by devotional songs called Haidang. Celebrated annually, the festival is primarily agrarian in nature. It is observed on the second Sunday of the Shukla Paksha of Phaguna month of Assamese calender and continues over several days, beginning with Deo Namawa on Sunday, followed by Mul Puja on Monday, Bihu Namawa on Tuesday, and Baghdeo Puja on Wednesday.

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ Sonowal, Ripunjoy. (2014). Some Folklore Medicines of the Sonowal Kachari tribe of Upper Assam, North East India. Scholars Academic Journal of Biosciences. 2. 541-543.
  2. ^ "Census of India Website : Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India". www.censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  3. ^ Baruah & Choudhury 1999.
  4. ^ "The Kacharis were, therefore, proficient in extracting gold by washing sands of the rivers. When they became subjects of the Ahom kingdom, they were, therefore, appointed as gold-washers and organized into a Sonowal Khel. These Kacharis came to be known as Sonowol Kacharis."(Dutta 1985, p. 33)
  5. ^ Borborua, Hiteswar, "Ahomor Din",p. 455
  6. ^ Prinsep 1838, p. 676.
  7. ^ Halali o Hemali o Dimapuroloi kiman dur o
  8. ^ Allen, B.C, "Gazetter of Cachar",1905,p.19

Printed sources

  • Dutta, Sristidhar (1985), The Mataks and their Kingdom, Allahabad: Chugh Publications
  • Baruah, Amlan; Choudhury, S. B. Roy (1999). Assam State Gazetteer. Government of Assam.

Internet

  1. ^ a b Karmakar, Rahul (19 May 2016). "Sarbananda Sonowal, 'national hero' who struck gold for BJP in Assam". Hindustan Times.
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