Rongker is an annual springtime festival of merriment observed by the Karbi

Karbi

The Karbis, mentioned as the Mikir in the Constitution Order of the Government of India, are one of the major ethnic groups in North-east India and especially in the hill areas of Assam. They prefer to call themselves Karbi, and sometimes Arleng . The term Mikir is now not preferred and is...

s of Assam

Assam

Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...

. It is observed in order to appease the local deities, associated with the welfare of the village and their harvest, and also to get rid of all evil happenings.

Time of the festival

The festival does not have any specific time although it is usually observed at the beginning of the New Year (month of April). Different villages may observe it at different time depending entirely on their convenience.

The set-up of the site

10 earthen alters against all the deities are installed in the eastern side of the site where the festival is to be held. They are constructed in a row heading south-north direction and named after the deities. The shape of the alters are made in such a manner so that the respective gods can rest there comfortably. Althouth 12 deities are worshipped, only 10 alters are set up since Hemphoo, Mukran and Rasingja are regarded as brothers and sister and they share a common alter. A gourd with tapering mouth full of the first made wine is placed on the alters in the name of the respective deity. Although except the gourd full of wine, nothing else is placed on the alters, however, two small branches of bamboo are erected on the alter of Ningding Sarpo, a few branches of Basil and a few bamboo sticks are erected on the alter of Murti and a branch of Fongrong (a kind of tree used for worshipping god) is placed on the altar of Arlock.

The rituals

The festival lasts for three days. All the villagers contribute in cash and kinds and donation are also collected from the neighbouring villages in order to meet the expenses of the rituals. The festival is divided into four major parts –

1. Sadi: In this process all the deities are invited
2. Karkli: Here the deities are worshipped in two ways – Kibo-kaba, offering of meals to the deities and Koia-abida, offering of areca-nut and betel leaves to the deities. The entire man-folk take part in the festival. They gather in the particular site in the morning with all necessary items required to worship. The main task is performed by the Kurusar, the main priest. He is assisted by some other religious specialists, the village headman, an official of the Karbi Kingdom, the youth leader of the village and a few elderly villagers well versed in worshipping the deiteis. It is not mandatory to take bath before performing the rituals but they must be purified by sprinkling water with the leaves of the sacred basil. All the sacrifices are made in the names of the deities except for the deity Bamun, who is vegeterian. Then the thek-kere, the religious specialists predicts the future of the village at the heart and intestine of the sacrificed animals. At the end of the rituals a feast is organised.
3. Rongphu-Rongling-Kangthin: It is also called the Ajo-Rongker and performed at the night of the second day. In this part, the evil spirits are driven out from the lower to the upper part of the village by way of dancing. A alter is made at the end of the village road and a chicken is sacrificed in the name of Ajo-Angtarpi.
4. Langhe Rongker: This is the concluding part of the festival observed at the third day of the festival. It is performed near a ghat by making an alter and sacrificing a cock in the name of Arnam-teke, he tiger god, to prevent tigers from attacking.

Deities worshipped

During this festival total 12 deities are worshipped. They are namely

1. Longri sarpo: The presiding as well as the village-god of the host village. This deity is responsible for the welfare of the Longri (Kingdom or jurisdiction).
2. Hemphoo: The supreme household god of the Karbis equivalent to the Vishnu of Hindu mythology.
3. Mukrang: The second household god, next to the Hemphoo, equivalent to the Mahadeva of Hindu mythology.
4. Rasingja: The household goddess who enjoys the position next to Hemphoo Mukrang in the hierarchy.
5. Bamun: The local vegetarian deity.
6. Ningding Sarpo: The god of Patience.
7. Rit-Anglong: The deity in-charge of agriculture
8. Than: The local deity, living in jungle, who is responsible for protecting the crops and people from wild animals and insects etc.
9. Murti: The headless malevolent spirit who lives in a hole under the earth.
10. Arlock: The deity that lives in a land standing between two hills.
11. Kuthepi: The deity responsible for looking over kuthepi territory.
12. Theng: The deity living in the jungle who cures deases like flue, body ache, head ache, tooth-ache and other physical pains.

Taboo observed

During this festival some taboos are observed. They include:

• Husking is prohibited
• The female folk is not allowed to participate in the festival
• None is allowed for any type of agricultural activities
• No villager is allowed to leave the village.

Some Karbi words associated with the festival

• Duwan: Alter
• Horbong: A gourd with tapering mouth, for holding wine.
• Horso: first made wine offered to the deity
• Kurusar: The main priest
• Deuri, Barwa, Thek-kere: These are all religions specialists
• Burtaman: An official of the Karbi Kingdom
• Rong-A-sarthe: Village headman
• Riso Basa: Youth leader of the village
• Arnam-teke: The tiger god
• Aar: Jhum cultivation

External links

• Rongker and Chomangkan at Indian Travel Portal
• Rongker Festival at India9
• Rongker and Chomangkan at Assam Tourism
• Rongker and Chomangkan at Locate India