DEORI PEOPLE & THEIR CULTURE

DEORI COMMUNITY & CULTURE

A BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE ORIGIN OF DEORI COMMUNITY:
Assam is the habitation of various tribal communities. Almost all of them have certain culture and tradition and they develop it in their own and unique style. They have a great contribution towards the making and well-being of Assamese culture. Bodo, Mishing, Kachari , Rabha, Deori are some major inhabitants of the land. Deori community has a notable culture and tradition which is a hidden treasure for the sociologists.

The Deoris represent the class “priest”-a section of the whole Chutia community. In the first two decades of 13th century, before arrival of the Ahom, the empire of Chutias was spreading towards the river Subansiri (a tributary of river Brahmaputra, which is in upper Assam ).Chutias are the tribal of Tibet-Burmese.
In the first decades of 16th century Ahom invaded Chutia’s empire and captured their state. Some of the Chutia people fled away to avoid terrorism but some of them managed to keep marital relationship with the Ahoms.
There are four major classes of Chutias. They are: Hindu, Ahom, Barahi & Deori. The main and important class of them is Deori. Some people use to say that the very life-style of the Deori are the same as it was in 14th century. From this point one can imagine how much they try hard to maintain their own cult and tradition. According to Mr. Brown, they preserve their language, religion, customs, traditions, rituals, habits unchanged before the invasion of Ahoms. Deoris were living in the riverside of Kundil in ancient Sodiya, accordinvg to the Census Report of 1901. The Deori community has firm-faith in God and always prays with great humility and reverence.

*NOW-A-DAYS:
Now a days, Deori people are living in various places of Assam, Especially, Sivsagar, Jorhat Districts and Lohit & Changlang District of Arunachal Pradesh are the major habitation of them. According to the Census Report of 1951, the total populations of Deori people were 12,503 (not include from Arunchal). But it is quite strange that only 6715 of them can speak their own language. There were four classes of Deoris one of them are mysteriously missing when:

(a) Dibongia (b) Tengaponiya, and (c) Bogeenya. (d) Patorganya

In ancient times, there was a class called Patargonya too. In due course of time, this community assimilated in Dibongya class. Only the people of Dibongiya class can speak their own mother tongue, and almost all the other classes do not know their language. The three classes of Deoris are living in various parts of Districts mentioned above.

ABOUT THE TERM DEORI:

The real explanation of the term” Deori” is not given convincingly by the Sociologists. Generally, the people who believe in God and pray for the well-being of their own community is known as “Deori”. Dr. Banikanta Kakoti opines that the word Deori is originated from a Sanskrit word “Debagrihik”.
Deori people believe that their ancestors came to Assam from the mountain “Himgiri”and lived in the North of Assam. Himgiri may probably be the Himalayas. It has already mentioned above that Deoris are classified into four groups. Each group is known as according to their habitation.

(a)Dibongia –Who live in the bank of the river Dibong (River Dibang).
(b)Tenaponya – The inhabitants of the riverside of Tengapani.
(c) Bogeenya – Who live in the bank of the river Bornoi.
(d) Patorganya – undisclosed (This group is still missing)

The Deoris were leading a prosperous and peaceful life in Sodiya when some hilly tribal people invaded them. They left Sodiya for good within a night making their way to an uncertain destination sailing through the river the Brahamaputra. Proceeding downward through the river the Brahmaputra. Ultimately they reached Sivsagar and Lakhimpur Distrcts and established themselves there and in this course the Patorganya group is gone missing. They tried to keep relationships with Assamese people to promote mutual co-operation and give their mother tongue. Only Dibongia Deoris use their own language and now keep it well.

HOUSE TYPE:
Deori people build their traditional house by using bamboos, woods, canes, reeds etc. They believe in typical “Chang Ghar” (a raised platform). The lower part of the house is used as an enclosure for the animals. The floor has certain holes in it and they pass the unnecessary victuals to the animals. A corridor is enclosed to the mid of the house or in a side by which they can differ various rooms for certain purposes. The fire-place is attached with the ‘Chang’ and they call it as “Dudepati”. They cooked various meals in it and eat them sitting around the fire-place. A platform remains enclosed to the house for cleaning various things. Such a platform is also built (by somebody) at the entrance of the house. It is to be noted the Deori people keeps faith in God and hence they build a place (in the home) containing an altar for praying.

DEORI TRADITIONAL HOUSE

DRESS AND ORNAMENT :

Doeri Women with their hand made traditional dress

Every society be it Assamese, Mishing or Bodo – has a particular dress habit. Every man tends to form society and in society they create their own peculiarities among themselves in various fields according to their religion, belief and century long experiences support it . As a matter of fact, the Deori community has their own century long adornment and now in the 21st century they are nourishing it, using it with heartfelt devotion. They use particular adornments in particular occasions. A Deori male uses a loin cloth called “Ikhoon” while they stay at home and the “Ikhoon” usually combines with a shirt or sporting. While going out of their home or village they generally use trousers and shirt. They adorns white cloth and use a necklace (called ‘Konthamoni’) while they take part in traditional social function. The Deori women wrap up a kind of skirt (called ‘Igoon’, which hangs loosely down wrapping tightly the breast) along with a sheet called “Jokachhiba” which is enclosed in the waist. However they sometimes wear ‘Riha’ (a traditional outfit, sheet) and it is called “Tegihra” . Particular to Deori women, they use a towel (Gamucha) to cover their head which is known as “Gathiki” . It’s a peculiar dress code of Deori woman. Deori woman often find their happiness in wrapping various ranges of traditional ornament. They wear a ring called “Gema” and use bangles called “Uchoon” in their wrist. They also wear necklace which they called as “Igawa”. Madali, Joonbiri, Dugdugi etc. are some of the ornaments they use while performing ‘Bihu’.

MARRIAGE CEREMONY:
Marriage is one of the major social traditions of a society. The customs that involve in marriage ceremony of Deori community is quite interesting. The wooer or his parents visit bride’s family first and seeks her for the groom. The first side has to give various commodities to the other in that day and both side cheerfully enjoy. A holy day is fixed for the marriage ceremony by conversation . Bridegroom sends various ornaments, clothing and significant others to the bride before the marriage ceremony. This is known as “Subi-huta-duba”. Later on, the marriage ceremony is performed with great religious attitude by them and people are received with various recepies. Hence the ceremony ends and bride is brought to the house of the groom.

Conclusion :
Deori people contributed whole heartedly towards the making of entire Assamese culture. They have century long culture & tradition and even now they keep it well. It is extremely a hard work to look at all about them . I just mentioned those which are told by the villagers.
However I feel and have firm-faith that Deori community has something more peculiarities which may have been a matter of study.

N.B.: Any Argument, Discussion, comment are heartiest welcome on this topics.