Colourful & Rooted — The Bagurumba Dance of the Bodos
Diversity is often a vaguely used term for India & its culture. Classic Economics literature, however, quantifies diversity by giving us the Fearon’s analysis. A country’s diversity can be approximated on two indexes — Ethnic Fractionalization Index (Measure of distinct cultural groups within a delineated area or genetic diversity) & Cultural Diversity Index (Measure of linguistic variations within a delineated area). And India ranks pretty high in both the indices, 17th in EFI and 6th in CDI.
With the numbers in place to support the clichés, one can truly say that India is indeed one of the most diverse lands on Planet Earth. Apart from nurturing multiple ethnic & linguistic distinctions in the society, India also has a significant tribal* population. As per Census 2001, Tribes were approximately 8.2% of the total population. One of the largest native tribes of India is the Bodo Tribe, an ethnic and linguistic aboriginal group from Northeast India.
The Bodo culture is rich and extensively indigenous. The Bodos harbour a proud identity and though they have integrated, to a large extent, with other ethnic groups, they are deeply rooted to their cultural traditions, especially in their art forms, attires, and cuisine. In this article, I will look at their major art form, i.e. The Bagurumba dance. But first, a quick glance at their history.
History
Representing one of the biggest of 18 sub-ethnic groups within the Kachari group (a generic term applied to a number of ethnic groups, especially in Assam), the Bodos have historically been natives of the Brahmaputra valley, spreading across Nepal & Northeast India, and are majorly settled in north-western parts of Assam. Racially, they belong to the Mongloid stock of the Indo-Mongloids or Indo-Tibetans.
They also have a native language, Bodo, which is a member of the Tibeto-Burmese family. The Bodo tribe was known to introduce rice cultivation, tea plantation, pig and poultry farming, and silkworm rearing in Northeast India. Weaving is an integral part of the Bodo culture, often seen in the intricate work of their dresses.
The Bagurumba Dance
The Bagurumba, or otherwise known as the “butterfly dance”, is a native folk dance of the Bodos. Usually practiced during the Bwisagu, a festival that coincides with the Bishuba Sankranti, i.e. Mid-April. This dance is a group dance and it depicts the collective grace of Bodo women, as the motion resembles that of butterflies in flight. The dance is typically performed by young girls, and ends with them bowing down to their parents and elders in reverence.
The dance is usually succeeded by worship of Bathow Bwrai by offering the deity chicken and zou** (rice beer). The religious philosophy of the Bodo tribe revolves around the super power of Bathow Bwrai who is considered analogous to Sibrai or Lord Shiva. The Sizwu plant ( a kind of cacti), is regarded as the representation of the supreme deity, i.e. Sibrai.
The Bagurumba dance is also known as the Bardwisikhla dance, and is performed by the women in the traditional and colourful Dokhna, Jwmgra and Aronai. The origin of the dance is thought to be in the historic naturalistic beliefs of the Bodo tribe.
There are two variants of the Bagurumba dance — Natural & Royal Bagurumba. Natural Bagurumba is performed only with instrumental music, whereas the Royal Bagurumba incorporates songs & vocal music to it.
This dance is commonplace in the districts of Udalguri, Kokrajhar, Baksa, Chirang, Bongaigaon, Nalbari, Darrang and Sonitpur, and one can catch a glimpse of it in temples and in schools & colleges dominated by the Bodo community, during the month of April.
This dance is accompanied by a distinctive Barugumba song which goes like –
“Bagurumba, Hai Bagurumba
Bagurumba, Hai aio Bagurumba
jat nonga bwla khun nonga bwla
thab brum homnanwi bamnanwi lagwmwn kha
hwi lwgw lagwmwn kha…”
The song is thought to be simple images of nature, and the human coexistence with Nature. Other favourite songs include Bar-Dwi-Sikhla, Swdwmsri Mwsanai, Haba Janai and more.
This traditional dance form is accompanied by multiple musical instruments, all hand-crafted and immersed in nature. There are four main instruments, which are endemic to the Bodo tribe –
- Sifung — A Long bamboo flute with five holes
- Serja — A violin like instrument, with round body and the scroll bent forward
- Tharkha — a block of bamboo split into half
- Kham — A long drum made of wood and goat skin
The Bodos are a fiercely independent and prideful tribe, with an opulent, abundant, and multi-faceted culture. Their colourful dance forms a mere speck on the richness. There is a lot more to read, write, and experience about this indigenous tribe, but perhaps none more fulfilling and engaging than their dance & music.
*A tribe is a social group that existed before the development of states. A tribe is a distinct community dependent on their land for their livelihood, and have historically been self sufficient.
- *Zou is a staple of the Bodo tribe, and quite often is an offering to even guests in Bodo Households, instead of tea & likewise.
