Bodo Tribe
Bodo, also called Boro, is the largest ethnic group in the Assam state of India. They are part of the more excellent Bodo-Kachari family ethnolinguistic groups and are spread across northeastern India.
They are concentrated mainly in the Bodoland territorial region of Assam and Meghalaya. They speak the Boro language, a Boro-Garo language of the Tiberto-Burman family. Over two-thirds of the people are bilingual, speaking Assamese as a second language.
Bodo Marriage Customs
Among the Bodo, Marriage is called Haba. The word ha means soil or earth, and ba means to bear. So Haba (marriage) means bearing the earth’s responsibility on the back.
As far as marriage is concerned, monogamy is the overall marriage system in Bodo society. Only with some exceptional cases, like when the first wife proves childless, the Bodo custom sanctions taking a second wife mainly to bear offspring, thereby handing down the father’s name for posterity.
Marriage takes place after both gender gain full maturity prerogative, and inclination of the families. The Bodos have very high regard for virtue and live by it.
The Bodos do not like to marry into other communities. Polyandry is strictly prohibited and absent in Bodo society. A widower may remarry his deceased wife’s younger sister, but not the elder, whom he is obliged conventionally to guard as a mother.
Similarly, a widow may remarry her deceased husband’s younger brother, but she is not allowed to marry the elder brother of her deceased husband.
Bodos have different type of marriage, which includes; Swngai Haba (Arranged marriage), Gwrjiya Lakhinai Haba (Obtaining girl by service), Kharsonnai Haba (Girls flee away to boys house), Bwnanwi Lainai Haba (Marriage by capture), Dzongkha Habnai Haba (Widow Remarriage), and Dwnkharnai Haba (Elopement).
Marriage Rites
After identifying a potential bride, a day is set aside when the elders go to see the girl and study her character. If she is liked, they return and leave a pair of silver bangles stuck in the ceiling or a couple of wine bottles hanging by it.
If these are not returned within the following week, consent of the girl’s family is indicated. Before the wedding, the boy goes to the girl’s house to see and get to know each other.
The girl gives him presents of handkerchiefs and napkins she made and bows before him. If she does not do this, it is understood that she does not agree to the proposed union.
Bride-Price and Dowry (Phon Taka)
After the marriage agreement between both families has been finalized, the customary bride price, Phon taka in the Bodo language, is paid. The demand for phon taka (bride price) was a compulsory marriage tradition of Bodo society.
But in contemporary times, bride price has almost disappeared; it is now practised as a ritual. In the prevailing customs, the bride’s father offers a nominal price of a pair of areca nuts, betel leaves and a pair of one rupee coins on a banana leaf to the bride’s father.
The bride’s father accepts the areca nuts, betel leaves only and returns the coins.
Marriage Procession
The traditional marriage of the Bodo is called Hathasuni khurnai. On the fixed date of the good marriage, the bridegroom’s parents, some other elder members of the village, and relatives go to the bride’s residence to bring the bride for marriage.
When the bride is about to be taken from her parent’s house, the older woman and her relatives console the bride with traditional songs.
After arriving at the bridegroom’s house, she is greeted by a large crowd of the bridegroom’s family, relatives and neighbours.
The bride is made to stand on a wooden plate called Gambari Kamplai at the main gate of the groom’s house, whilst the groom’s younger sister sprinkles holy water and washes her feet with holy water.
A relative sister fills in for this procession if the groom has no sister. The bride groom, in return, gives a small present to his new sister-in-law as a token of love.
Afterwards, the bride’s party are directed towards the Noma No (main house), where they are served with Dwi (water), Saha-Muri (tea with fried rice) and Goi-Patwi (betel with leaf).
After a while, the bridegroom and bride are subsequently led out from the Noma No, accompanied to the altar of the Mandap (native deity) by the wife (brides friend) and method (assistant groom).
As they work towards Mandap alter. The villagers chant unabated_hinjao gwdanni jwi! (Victory to the bride) how gwdanni jwi! (Victory to the bridegroom)_. The new couples are made for walking seven rounds around the Mandap alter anti-clockwise.
After that, the Purohit (Priest) calls the new couple to sit on the mat as the bride’s father prays to the gods for blessings of his child union, whilst declaring in front of everyone that he has handed over his daughter to the bridegroom for life.
The Purohit binds the nuptial knot of the bride and bridegroom. Then the bride and bridegroom chant Gayatrimantra jointly and offer the Prasad (mixed corns) to the Mandap (deity). Subsequently, a large feast is organized where great drinks and foods are shared, accompanied by traditional music and dancing.
Athmongal
On the eighth day after the marriage ceremony, the bride and bridegroom come to the bride’s house for the post-marriage ceremony known as Athmongal. In the traditional society, the bridegroom brings cocks, goats or pigs in honour of his father-in-law’s family and relatives. Athmangal is a very brief ceremony, and a little feast is arranged occasionally.
Only a few selected friends and relatives are invited to the ceremony. After the ceremony, the bride and bridegroom return home with gifts and presents they received from their friends and relatives on the occasion of their marriage ceremony, together with the articles presented by the bride’s parents. The bride also takes away all her belongings from her parent’s house.
Conclusion
Bodo marriage can perhaps be considered a religious event, but it is regarded as more of the nature of a social and festive gathering. Undoubtedly, several rites, rituals and ceremonies are associated with the marriage of the Bodo.
Without the ritual ceremony, a marriage cannot be performed as the rites, and the rituals are made compulsory in the marriage of the Bodo.
