The Sonowal Kacharis are a division of the Kachari family of north east India specially in Assam Tibeto-Burman speakers and are predominantly inhabitants of Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Tinisukia and Dibrugarh district of Assam.
They are scattered in the districts of Sibsagar,Golaghat and in Arunachal Pradesh in east India, also.During the reign of the Ahom King,some Kacharis engaged in gold panning of river sand,hence the name Sonowal or gold washer. Their population is estimated at 2 lakh (200,000).
The Sonowal Kacharis are a branch of great Kacharis of Assam. It is said that during the reign of the Ahom king some of the Kacharis were engaged in washing gold particles from the sands of river and therefore the prefix 'Sonowal'(Gold washer),was added to signify them. According to an anecdote, the Kacharis of upper Assam who became the disciple of 'Gossain' (a religious head, Goswami) named 'Keshawdeo' were considered to have super-natural power of offering a certain quantity of gold in a bamboo tube while the Ahom king Godadhar Singha was on the throne and these people came to be known as Sonowal Kacharis.

Origins

The Sonowal Kacharis believe that they were the descendants of the great Boli Raja, Prahlada

Prahlada

Prahlada is a character from the Puranic texts of Hinduism, wherein he is famed for his exclusive devotion to Vishnu, despite attempts in the story by his father, Hiranyakashipu, to turn him to the contrary...

, Ghatotkacha

Ghatotkacha

Ghatotkacha , is a character in the Mahabharata, the son of Bhima and the giantess Hidimbi . His maternal parentage made him half-rakshasa and gave him many magical powers that made him an important fighter in the Kurukshetra war, the climax of the epic...

, Bhagadutta, Bana

Bana

Bana may refer to:*Term for the Fali people, especially in Nigeria* Bana, Gabon* Bana, Guinea* Bana , a village in Rajasthan state of India* Bana , popular balladeer from Cape Verde* Bana, Hungary, village in Hungary...

, Norakasura and Bhaskar Barman. The great king Boli Raja, mentioned in Bishnu Purana, who was exiled to Patal Puri by Lord Bishnu, is said to be their ancestor. (The name of ‘Boli Raja’ is vividly mentioned in the tale ‘Haidang Husari Geet’ of the Sonowal Kacharis.) The works ‘Tamreswari Mondir’ and the 'Kesaikhaiti Than’ contain the names of the rivers and tributaries that proved to be true of the Sonowal Kachari's kingdom at Sadiya

Sadiya

Sadiya is a small town in the Tinsukia district of the North-eastern Indian state of Assam. It stands on a grassy plain, nearly surrounded by forested Himalayan mountains, on the right bank of what is locally considered the main stream of the Brahmaputra river...

 before the Chutias.
An opinion has been given by Dr. Lila Gogoi that ‘Manik’, a king of the Sonowal Kacharis, ruled ‘Sadiya Rajya’ sometime back in the 11th or 12th century AD.
The late Benudhar Sarmah, an eminent historian of Assam, says ‘Kowndilya or Kundil’ of ‘Sadiya’ was called ‘Halali’ by the Sonowal Kacharis. Although the origin of all Kacharis is the same, there are many clans of Kacharis, among them ‘Bodowsa’, ‘Dhyan or Dehan’, ‘Lathowsa’, ‘Thawthensa’, ‘Hafalongsa’ and ‘Hammusa’. The Sonowal Kacharis are descendants of the ‘Hammusa’ family.
A folklore of the Sonowal Kacharis relates that:

"Having being blessed by the ‘Khiring Raja’, the god worshipped by the Sonowal Kacharis, the wife of a Sonowal Kachari named Manik gave birth to a cat. The cat was kept in a ‘Hariyahar duli’ (mustard loaded bamboo basket), and the cat turned into a golden cat, surprisingly. On having this heavenly gift from ‘Khiring Raja’, Manik could become the king of Halali. Later he bequeathed his kingdom to his grandson Mukuta."

It may be that there were at least two immigrations from north and northeast into the valley of the Brahmaputra. One entered into Bengal and Assam through the valley of Tista, Dharla and Sonkosh and the other taking its way through Suwansiri, Dibang and Dihong into upper Assam, and the Sonowal Kacharis are possibly from the second group.

Family tree

According to the Haidang Geet, the family tree of the Sonowal Kacharis includes seven major clans or ‘Khels’ which are divided into fourteen subclans or ‘Bongshas’, and the ‘Bongshas’ are again sub-divided into 108 ‘Hons or Pariyals’.
The names of the Khels are:
1. Ujani Kusia 2. Namoni Kusia 3. Amorabomia 4. Tipomia 5. Dhulial 6. Siripuria 7. Balikhitiari.
These ‘Khels’ are subdivided into fourteen ‘Bongshas’, which are:
1. Madanial 2. Manikial 3. Hogral 4. Muktal 5. Ezmal 6. Formal 7. Horu Hazual 8. Bor Hazual 9. Lothial 10. Chotial 11. Kumral 12. Bormal 13. Dongral and 14. Dingial.

However another nine ‘Bongshas’ have so far been found which are merged into the Sonowal Kacharis either from Miri, Dofola, Bodo, Rabha, Dimasa, Naga, Shyam, Konsh or Ahom origin. These are:1. Mukhral 2. Hukral 3. Dekral 4. Chungial 5. Chunial 6. Dhansirial 7. Hakual 8. Dhadumial 9. Dolongrial.

All the ‘Bongshas’ mentioned above are again subdivided into minimum 4 Nos. of ‘Hons or Pariyals’ totaling 108 Nos. These are as follows:1. Guinri 2. Pithari 3. Dakuwali 4. Boglari
5. Lokkhanari/Phetari or Ghorpurari 6. Gaon Khuwari/Hatiri/Pakrari or Ghujiari 7. Balikhitiari 8. Baithoari 9. Akhuari or Bhaktiari 10. Dekari 11. Ujhari 12. Khaniri
13. Loguwari or Swargiari 14. Gelepi 15. Hukuli 16. Muktali 17. Makrari 18. Gejepi 19. Hogun Murari 20. Dhaknari 21. Ezlari 22. Langiri 23. Tuhuri 24. Tepari
25. Lapitri 26. Mukudumi or Kenari 27. Chururi 28. Bormajhiri/Misniri/Nagharari or Udiri 29. Khatuwali 30. Jarlogari 31. Manari or Marari 32. Khotari 33. Nezkatari
34. Phatuwali 35. Phalari 36. Laluwari 37. Thakuli or Thakuri 38. Pedari 39. Chelengi 40. Tangiri 41. Kshagunmari 42. Tarari 43. Kedali 44. Hatkhuwari 45. Borghiari
46. Betari 47. Kumrari or Kumari 48. Dhawali 49. Pingrari 50. Duliri 51. Lerangi 52. Jhingiri 53. Akolhoriari 54. Choitari 55. Burha Mudari 56. Mudori 57. Meglari
58. Anthuali or Deori 59. Daphlari 60. Keontari 61. Bagri 62. Likamiri 63. Hagumiri 64. Kolari/Kopowhiri or Hatihilari 65. Turuki 66. Baolari 67. Titari 68. Ganthiri
69. Demari or Doimari 70. Kharghiari 71. Borgiari 72. Kekuari or Tamuliri 73. Horumajhiri 74. Dhenkiali 75. Mukhrari 76. Kheprari 77. Pikrari or Pikari 78. Ghotari
79. Lokri or Kandh Bhongari 80. Ghungiari 81. Gebrari 82. Dhokuwali 83. Kolakhuwari 84. Dekanuwari 85. Nakori 86. Jhoprari 87. Agari 88. Tipamiari 89. Buniari
90. Bailung or Bailungiri 91. Besnari or Changpetari 92. Gherari 93. Polashi 94. Dhemkari 95. Kshadiari 96. Ahoari 97. Lohari 98. Matiari 99. Gohpuriari or Gorporari
100. Dhadumiari 101. Lunpuriari 102. Dhadumial 103. Hazari 104. Kenari 105. Ledhari 106. Teziari 107. Ghuniari 108. Phutkari.

Since the ‘Bongshas’ and the ‘Honses’ are blood relatives, marriage among the same ‘Bongshas’ and ‘Honses’ is strictly prohibited. Monogamy is the prevailing tradition but having more than one wife is not a social bar. Widows can remarry if both the parties agree. The Sonowal Kachari people suffix their ‘Hons’ with their names, although they have their titles like ‘Saikia’, ‘Hazarika’, ‘Borah’, ‘Baruah’ and ‘Das’ also.
The Sonowal Kachari people do not have their own dialect at present, they speak Assamese only. However, some of the dialectal words they use are not available in the Assamese Dictionary.

Food

The habitual food of Sonowal Kacharis comprises plain rice, cooked vegetables, fish and meat. The Sonowal Kacharis are non-vegetarians who savor meats of almost all animals except dogs and beef. They love to add a few spices and chilies in their daily diet. The food habits reflect the unique cultural traits and traditional legacy of the villagers, who usually do not throw away any part of an animal. The intestines and skins of the animals are also considered to be a delicious dish among them. However, owing to their religious beliefs and customs, the Sonowal Kachari are not allowed to eat the flesh of some animals, lest the qualities of that particular animal be transferred.The majority of the food restrictions are applied to the women. In some cases, the old men are not subjected to any kind of social taboo. (They do not prefer too much spicy food.) Sonowal Kacharis are very fond of fish. They prepare delicious dishes from various fish they catch from neighboring rivers and Bils. They also use many insects and worms as food, which they collect from forests and swamps. Sonowal Kacharis have also a habit of taking various light repasts (Jalpans) like, ‘Komol Chaul’, ‘Chira’, ‘Pitha’, ‘Chewa Diya Bora Bhat’, ‘Chungat Diya Bhat’ etc. The villagers prepare several drinks from rice and fruits. Some of the varieties of indigenous drinks of Sonowal Kacharis are: - Mod, Ruhi Mod, and also Serap, from fruits and molasses. All the inhabitants of Sonowal Kachari villages savor the drinks, irrespective of age and sex.

Textiles and ornaments

The villagers wear colorful tribal outfits, with ‘Dhuti-Kurta’ and decorated 'Phulam-Gamusa’. Weaving is a traditional art handed down through generations among the Sonowal Kacharis. The women are very expert in weaving with their self made looms. When a girl marries, it is almost compulsory for her parents to give her a loom. Warm and colorful embroidered hand-woven items such as ‘Ari-Sadar’, ‘Muga-Sadar’, ‘Borkapur’, ‘Mugar-Mekhela’, ‘Mugar-Sadar’, ‘Kopahi-Mekhela’, ‘Kopahi-Sadar’, ‘Riha’, ‘Dhuti’, ‘Gamusa’, ‘Tiyoni’, ‘Ekathia’, and ‘Seleng Kapur’, make magnificent souvenirs. Sonowal Kachari women always use a 'Tokoya' to cover their head. The majority of the Sonowal Kachari population is engaged in farming and weaving. Sonowal Kachari women are very fond of their traditional ornaments, which are called ‘Gam-kharu’, ‘Hansor Mora Kharu’, ‘Keru’, ‘Thuria’, ‘Zangphai’, ‘Biri’, ‘Kongkon’, dugdugi, latumoni etc.

Religion

The traditional religion of the Sonowal Kacharis is animistic, though conceptions of a supreme creator and an afterlife are in existence. Nature is seen to be alive with invisible forces, minor deities, and spirits with which priests and medicine men mediate. A portion of Sonowal Kacharis still follow the ancient religion of Animism. According to the principles of animism, the followers worship their ancestors, who are believed to help them from any kind of difficult predicament. Prior to the advent of the Satra Sanghati, the Sonowal Kacharis believed in ancestor worship. In the 17th century, with the advent of Satradhikaries, Vaishnawi was introduced, as a result, the population now is predominantly Vaishnawi. Every Sonowal Kachari village has an identical Namghor that follows strict religious rituals and customs.

Though the Sonowal Kacharis have faith in the Vaishnavas Nam Dharma which is completely against the worship of any other God or Goddess with or without sacrifice, yet they cannot entirely abandon their religious systems. They still continue to hold sacrificial worship to their traditional deities. They have traditional beliefs about some animals, birds and trees which they worship for the welfare of the society.

There are two kinds of worship, community worship and household worship. They worship household deities to maintain peace in their family and community worship for the welfare of the society. ‘Baitho Puja’, ‘Baghdeo Puja’, ‘Gatigiri Puja’, ‘Gojai Bhoj’, ‘Sorogdeo Puja’, ‘Gokalika Puja’, ‘Jolkhai Puja’, ‘Kula Samon Puja’, ‘Ronga Samon Puja’, ‘Bor Samon Puja’, ‘Kshetra Puja’, ‘Kechaikhati Goshani Puja’, ‘Achar Kota Puja’, ‘Tapsiling Puja’, ‘Burha Burhi Thanar Puja’, ‘Baliya Baba Thanar Puja’, ‘Bhuruli Thanar Puja’, ‘Koli Ai Thanar Puja’, ‘Lokhimi Tola Sobah’, ‘Bhur Utua Sobah’, ‘Bali Sobah’, ‘Chengeli Machar Sobah’, ‘Nora Chiga Sobah’, ‘Batar Sobah’, ‘Phol Mular Sobah’, ‘Mithoi Bota Sobah’, ‘Bor Sobah’ are the main community worship of the Sonowal Kacharies. Other household worship are – ‘Khin Bhonga’, ‘Burha Puha’, ‘Chaul Khowa’, ‘Morak Diya’, ‘Pir Diya’, ‘Na-puruhor Sokam’, ‘Lokhimi mota’, ‘Bari Chukar Sokam’, ‘Ayuh Tola Sokam’, ‘Ai-mota’, ‘Apeswari Soba’, ‘Batoruwa Sokam’, ‘Gorokhiya Sobah’, ‘Ga Soloni Diya’, ‘Ujan Mach Dhora Puja’, ‘Dangar Goch Kota Puja’, ‘Habi Jui Joluwa Puja’, ‘Chitika Pota Puja’, ‘Kacha Ghans Kota Puja’, ‘Chumoni Puja’, ‘Kochu Kowanri Puja’ etc.

Festivals

The Sonowal Kachari community celebrates its own array of festivals with extreme devotion and enthusiasm. ‘Bihus’ are the main festival of the Sonowal Kacharis, unlike other Assamese people. Three Bihus, i.e. ‘Bohag Bihu or Rongali Bihu’, ‘Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu’ and ‘Kati Bihu or Kongali Bihu’ are celebrated by the Sonowal Kacharis with great enthusiasm. Festivals, marriages, harvests, or just the joy of the moment - are occasions for the Sonowal Kacharis to burst into dance.

Marriage systems

Monogramy is the most popular form of marriage but acquiring more than one wives is permissible if the first wife gives her consent to it due to some reasons. The practice of inter-caste marriage is not rare. Though this system of marriage is generally not supported by the parents yet it is seen that there is no hard and fast rule regarding this matter.
In case, a Sonowal Kachari girl marries a boy of other caste then their society accept them easily. Nowadays bride-price among Sonowal Kacharis is not accepted. In the present day society, five type of marriages are performed among them. These are (1) Santi Biya, (2) Nowa Dhowa or Borbiya, (3) Hom Diya Biya, (4) Gandharba Biya and (5) Rabha Sarakai Diya Biya.

Leadership

Much like other village communities of the northeast, there are some similarities in the social structure of Sonowal Kacharis. In a village administration headed by a ‘Gaon Burha’ there are some office bearers. These are known as Rajaguru, Pujari, Deori, Mojindar, Barik, Bhorali, Geetghai, Tikadhara, Muradhara, Tamuli, Bilonia, Randhani, Barhoni, Medhi, Bayon, Patheki, Ashirbodia, and so on. The Sonowal Kacharis have a very special type of mutual help and co-operation among them which they called ‘Hari or Haori’ where the inhabitants of a village put their hands to a job without remuneration, for those who ask. The invitee, of course, has to entertain them with food and drinks.