Lankhong Puja

Source: TH

Context: The Tiwa tribe of Assam recently celebrated their traditional Lankhong Puja, a socio-religious festival where prayers are offered for a good harvest in the upcoming Rabi season.

About Lankhong Puja:

• What it is?

• A traditional socio-religious festival of the Tiwa community.

• Celebrated by: The Tiwa (Lalung) tribe of Assam.

• Reason:

• To invoke blessings for a prosperous Rabi crop season and ensure good agricultural yield.

• Features:

• Community members offer prayers and make ritual offerings to deities. Music, dance, and other cultural performances accompany the rituals. Reinforces agricultural traditions, community bonding, and cultural continuity.

• Community members offer prayers and make ritual offerings to deities.

• Music, dance, and other cultural performances accompany the rituals.

• Reinforces agricultural traditions, community bonding, and cultural continuity.

About Tiwa Tribe:

• Who they are?

• An important tribal group of Assam, formerly known as Lalung, belonging to the Mongoloid ethnic group. Linguistically part of the Tibeto-Burman family, with close ties to Bodo-Naga tribes.

• An important tribal group of Assam, formerly known as Lalung, belonging to the Mongoloid ethnic group.

• Linguistically part of the Tibeto-Burman family, with close ties to Bodo-Naga tribes.

• Habitat:

• Reside mainly in Nagaon, Morigaon, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Titabor (Assam), as well as parts of Meghalaya and Tripura. Settlements are divided into hill Tiwas and plain Tiwas, with distinct lifestyles influenced by geography and neighboring communities.

• Reside mainly in Nagaon, Morigaon, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Titabor (Assam), as well as parts of Meghalaya and Tripura.

• Settlements are divided into hill Tiwas and plain Tiwas, with distinct lifestyles influenced by geography and neighboring communities.

• Features:

• Physical: Mongoloid features; name “Tiwa” itself denotes Ti = water, Wa = superior. Cultural: Rich oral traditions, folk music, and dance; historical references in Assam Buranji, Jayanta Buranji, Kachari Buranji. Religious life centers around Borghar, Thaan Ghar, Naamghar. Social: Youth organizations like Chamadi play a key role in community service and social responsibilities. Festivals and rituals reflect agricultural cycles and collective life.

• Physical: Mongoloid features; name “Tiwa” itself denotes Ti = water, Wa = superior.

• Cultural: Rich oral traditions, folk music, and dance; historical references in Assam Buranji, Jayanta Buranji, Kachari Buranji. Religious life centers around Borghar, Thaan Ghar, Naamghar.

• Religious life centers around Borghar, Thaan Ghar, Naamghar.

• Social: Youth organizations like Chamadi play a key role in community service and social responsibilities. Festivals and rituals reflect agricultural cycles and collective life.