THE PEOPLE

HISTORY

 

The people

The Boro people are Sino-Tibetan origin of mongoloid group. They bear the physical structure of a common Mongolian feature. Generally they are of mediocre height and well-built stature. They have flat nose, small eyes, black-spiky hair and protruding cheekbones. They are yellowish brown in colour. By nature their behavior is very amiable ever ready to befriend even a stranger.
  Culture and Tradition

Religion

The Boro people are found as believers of different religions. Though the majority of them basically practice animism, and now developed and systematized to the sect called Bathouism, there are followers of different religions brought in from outside such as Brahmaism, Satsangism, Christianity etc.

   

Music and Dance
The Boro people are rich in the culture of music and dance. Traditionally they have scourge of colourful dance styles which are mainly related to Bathouism and agro-based life of the Boro people. Bagrumba, Jara-fagla mwsanai, Sikhri-Sikhla mwsanai, Khwijima fonai, Kherai gwlao mwsanai etc. are some of them. Kham (unique drum), Sifung (an unique flute with five holes), Serja (violin type of string instrument) and Jotha (small kind of cymbal) are their traditional musical instruments.

   
 
Festivals
The Boro people celebrate several festivals of which Bwisagu, a spring festival, Magw or Domasi, a harvest festival, Mainao fuja, Hambai fuja etc. Bwisagu is celebrated as New Year festival in which they with the change of season and nature express joy and ecstasy with music and dance. In Magw they enjoy feast with newly harvested crops. Mainao fuja is observed in prayer for good crops just before the fruition of paddy. Hambai fuja is observed with sacrifice of chickens, goats and pigs with prayer for good health and also for saving from all kinds of misfortune during the cultivation season. It is observed in the eve of cultivation season. In the influence of Indians the Boro people have now a days taken to observe Durga Puja, Saraswati Puja, Kali Puja, Ganesh Puja etc. which were quite unknown to them till very recent times.

   


Dress
The Boro people have their own unique dresses. The Boro women are expert weaver. The Boro women wear Dokhona, a beautiful and particularly decorated dress woven by themselves. It is a dress of bright and attractive colours close to natural. Besides, the Boro women weave shawls, Aronais (a Boro muffler), bed-shits, scarves and so on. The Boro males had their traditional dress though they have taken to wear western attires these days.

   
 
Language
The Boro people have their own language and literature. Boro language was in undeveloped form till the last century. It was introduced in primary schools as a medium of instruction only in 1968 and was gradually upgraded to secondary education as well as college level. The Boro language was recognized as a course of study of Master degree in Guwahati University in the year 1996. It was also recognized an associate official language in Kokhrajhar district and Odalguri subdivision in 1984 by the Assam government. It is now in wait for recognition in 8th schedule of the Indian Constitution.

   
 


Matrimonial System
The Boro society is a patriarchal system. A male child merits his parents’ properties. An arranged marriage is generally accepted marriage in the Boro society. Brides are married to the grooms’ house. Nowadays in the influence of other societies – love marriage, elopement, forced marriage (threatening the girl if she is not willing) etc are not very uncommon anymore.

   

Food habit
Rice is their staple food. Boro people are generally non-vegetarians. Jumai (rice beer) is their commonly used drink. They drink jumai in festivals. Use of jumai in social functions and farming activities is too common in the Boro society. Excessive use of jumai has ruined their socio-economic condition.


 


Population
Total population of Boro is around 45,00,000. Unlike the Indian society, there is no casteism among the Boro society. All the people are treated as of equal status.


HOME
INTRODUCTION
MANIFESTO
THE CONSTITUTION
THE PEOPLE

HISTORY

PLATFORM
MAP
CONTACT