A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PEOPLE OF BALIDEORI THE SOLE DEORI VILLAGE IN DHAKUAKHANA SUB

DEORI CULTURE

By : Dibya Jyoti Dutta , Bhagamukh , Dhakuakhana

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 13^th 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 16^th 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 14^th 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 and Jorhat Districts are the major habitation of them. According to the Census Report of 1951, the total populations of Deori people were 12,503. But it is quite strange that only 6715 of them can speak their own language. There are three classes of Deoris:

                (a ) Dibongia
                (b) Tengaponiya, and
                 (c) Borgonya.

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 peole 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 three groups. Each group is known as according to their habitation.

(a)Dibongia –Who live in the bank of the river Dibong.

(b)Tenaponya – The inhabitants of the riverside of Tengapani.

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 estsblished themselves there. 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.

BALI DEORI—THE SOLITARY DEORI VILLAGE IN DHAKUAKHANA SUB-DIVISION :

Bali Deori, the lone Deori village in Dhakuakhana Sub-Division has developed their own culture and tradition in their own and unique way. The village is situated in the South-West of Dhakuakhana town about 22 kilometers from it. The village located in picturesque natural scenery accompanied by a mighty river Kherkata. The river flows from East to West. The transportation system to Bali Deori from Dhakuakhana is pitiously bad.Pepole use bicycle,scooter, to visit various places . The river Kherkata helps the people to make journey through it in flood time. Of course, the village is pretty big. Almost 600 people live in it.According to an old villager, Mr. Ranjan Deori the village comes to an existence when some Deori villager of Maz Deori, a village of Majuli(a Sub-Division of Jorhat District) came there in 18^th century. The river Kherkatia dposited a huge quantity of sand in that place in the floodtime .The word “Bali”is the Assamese word for sand. The inhabitants of the area are Deori and hence the name “Bali Deori” is originated.

* POPULATION AND THEIR LIFE STYLE:

According to a Census Report of Anthropological study in Bali Deori village by the Department of Anthropology, Dhakuakhana College in September 2002, counts up 587 Deori people in the village Sex wise distribution of the population is given underneath:

Male	Percent age	Female	Percent age	Total
294	50.08%	293	49.91	587

According to their study, the ratio between the two sex groups is almost equal.

Most of the inhabitants are cultivator. Agriculture is their main source of their earnings. There are, of course some government employees too. The people of Bali Deori are living peacefully. All the people are tied up with mutual co-operation and harmony.

AGRICULTURE:

It is already mentioned above that Agriculture is the main source of their livelihood. Deori people are hard- working people. They have been growing various crops such as paddy, wheat, beans etc. They use power-teller and Tractor for cultivation but Plough is the main digging device for them. They have enough for cultivation and the lands are prolific for which they make a good production out of it. They sell the excessive commodities and make money. They also domesticate animals. Pigs, hens, ducks, cows, buffaloes are some domestic animals.

OCCUPATION:

Deori people are busy in various occupations. Cultivation is their first preference. The survey of the Anthropological study in Bali Deori shows the numbers of various occupants.

SL. no.	Primary				Secondary			Grand total
	Occupation	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total
1	Agriculture	116	30	146	92	183	275	421
2	Business	8	-	8	3	-	3	11
3	Teacher	17	-	17	-	-	-	17
4	Lecturer	3	1	4	-	-	-	4
5	Other job holder	7	-	7	-	2	2	9
6	Engineer	3	1	4	-	-	-	4
7	Student	118	111	229	-	-	-	229
8	House wife	-	111	111	-	-	-	111
9	Dependent	23	20	43	-	-	-	43

* RELIGION:

Religion is the internal affairs of human soul. Deoris are religious people. They are Hindus. T here are three groups of religious Hindu people among them:

(a)Vaishnavas : who believes in the religious attitude founded by Srimanta Sankardeva.

(b) Saktas : who believe s in the goddess Aadyasakti and worship her and makes Sacrifice.

(c) Krishanaguru’s followers: Who don’t believe in Vaishnavism or Saktaism and follows the ideals of a legendary personage Krishnaguru.

FESTIVALS:

Deori people celebrate various religious festivals. They follow Assamese calander and according to this calander the year begins by the month Bohag (Bohag month begins in the mid April). The peple of bali Deori have a reputed temple of Aadyasakti (known as durga in Assamese language).In Bohag , unlike the Assamese people they don’t perform “Hunchari”(an Assamese tradition of singing and dancing together). If circumstances prevail, they worship to the goddess Aadyasakti and seek kind permission from her on the occasion.Meanwhile a particular man or woman is possessed by an evil spirit which is called “Deo Utha” (rising of evil spirit). He or she tells about the future of the villagers and villagers believe and sustained firm-faith that the prediction will be true. The Deo drinks only animal blood (those animals are sacrificed in altar of the temple) and do not take usual food. In Bali Deori village it is an interesting fact that only woman are caught by the evil spirit ‘Deo’ . In this time the followers ony wear white clothes (now a day, red coloured clothes are strictly prohibited in that place. They also celebrate ‘Saonia Puja’, ‘Meota Puja’, and ‘Borhobah’ and so on. marrage ceremony is to an interesting festival that performed by them. There are certain rules and regulations, ritual, habits are tied up with it.

HOUSE TYPE:

Deori people build there 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.

DRESS AND ORNAMENT :

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 21^st 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 “Ikho” while they stay at home and the “Ikho” 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 ‘Igo’, which hangs loosely down wraping tightly the breast) along with a sheet called “Jakashiba”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 wraping various ranges of traditional ornament. They wear a ring called “Gema” and use bangles called “Uchu” 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 tradition 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.

A list of population distribution by marital status of Bali Deori village is given underneath.

Marital Status	Male	Percent age	Female	Percent age	Total	Percent age
Married	117	19.93%	128	21.805%	245	41.74%
Unmarried	177	30.153%	165	28.108%	342	58.26%

According to this table it is seen that 41.74% people are tied up the knot.

# EDUCATION:

Education plays a vital role to develop personality of the people of a society. Anthropological study in Bali Deori village, by the Department of Anthropology , Dhakuakhana College finds that a huge number of them are literate . There are three primary schools in it . The first one is ‘ 71 no. Bali Deori primary School’ , The other one is ‘ Bali Deori girls’ primary School’, established in 1984. And the last one is remaining closed due to some unavoidable circumstances.

A list of population distribution by Educational standard of Bali Deori village is given herewith :

Serial no.	Educational qualification	Male	Percent age	Female	Percent age	Total	Percent age
1	Class ( i-iv)	52	9.52%	48	8.79%	100	18.3%
2	( v - ix )	85	15.56%	86	15.75%	171	31.31%
3	H.S.L.C passed	27	4.94%	31	5.67%	58	10.62%
4	H.S 1^st year	13	2.38%	8	1.46%	21	3.04%
5	H.S 2^nd year	4	0.73%	6	1.09%	10	1.83%
6	H.S passed	29	5.31%	7	1.28%	36	6.59%
7	B.A student	5	0.91%	8	1.46%	13	2.38%
8	B.A passed	22	4.02%	4	0.73%	26	4.75%
9	M.A / M.Sc student	1	0.183%	1	0.183%	2	0.36%
10	M.A / M.Sc. passed	2	0.36%	1	0.183%	3	0.54%
11	Engineer	3	%0.54	-	-	3	0.54%
12	Illiterate	30	5.49%	72	13,i9%	102	18.68%

# LANGUAGE :

The people of Bali Deori are of Dibongia section . They use their mother tongue ‘Deori’ in day to day intercourse. However all the people can speak Assamese language fluently. Some of them can speak Hindi, Mishing and English language too. A list of population distribution by language of Bali Deori village is given underneath:

Deori		Assamese		English	Hindi	Other
Primary	Secondary	Primary	Secondary	Secondary	Secondary	Secondary
565	3	1	566	23	32	11
96.07%	1.93%	0.36%	97.055%	7.03%	8.1%	3.13%

it is seen from the table mentioned above that Deori people speaks ‘Deori language’ as primary and recognize Assamese as the secondary language

# FAMILY :

Generally Deori people are living jointly . Of course there are primary families too. They believe certain taboos. It is prohibited for the wife of a younger brother to enter the bed-room of the elder brother.When it was asked , Mr. Tilak Deori ( a villager ) why they follow certain taboos and keeps faith in joint family ? He told that the taboo that they performed are quite religious. According to the customs, they believe that it keeps peace and harmony in a family. They were agrarian, so it is useful to live jointly. A joint family can produce more as they have more workers.

Food habit :

The food habit of Deori community comprises rice as principal item, and they take both veg. and non- veg diet. They drink “Chuje”, a traditional liquor and it is extremely favourite drink of them. Instead of tea, they take “Chuje” in the morning (some of them use tea also) . In religious functions they prepare various kinds of recepies. Pork is one of their favourite choice and it is accepted as the sacred in the religious ceremony.

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.

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