With a lot of vigor and enthusiasm the Deori community ushered in Spring and agricultural prosperity by celebrating Ebaku Bishu on Thursday.
The agricultural community of Deori Tribe was drowned in the festivities of the Deori Bihu or traditionally called ‘Ebaku Bishu’. During the Assamese calendar month of Bohag, the first Wednesday of the month, the Deoris celebrate this spring festival.
In essence, Deoris are agrarians, and they celebrate the festivities with unrestricted enthusiasm and joy. Folklore holds that the first Wednesday of the Bohag month is a sacred day. As the rituals of the day begin, the elders pay their respects to the departed souls.
Following the puja, there is an animal sacrifice at the Deughar, the community prayer hall. Generally, a goat is sacrificed to Kechaikhati, Bolia Baba, Bura Buri (Kundi Mama) in the morning for the community’s welfare.
Families in the community sacrifice ducks and fowls individually to ensure their wellbeing. Then, the community members exchange traditional dishes and beverages with each other while exchanging greetings.
As part of the Ebaku Bishu celebration, women folk from the Deori community take part in egg fights. Daytime activities for the women of the community include egg fights and mud games. Children will smear mud on each other and indulge in the festivities.
Tradition says that on this day, young boys who are about to enter their teenage years are required to wear “churia”, a traditional dress symbolizing their transition into youth.
In each household’s courtyard, young people hold ‘husori’ and perform Bihu dances.
One of the main attractions of the first day of Bihu is the prophecy made by the ‘Deu’, who performs a ritual called ‘Deudhoni Nritya’, which indicates what the village’s future will look like.
During the day, the community’s women indulge in egg fights and mud games. Young people will indulge in the revelry while smearing mud on each other. According to tradition, young boys entering their teenage years are required to wear churia, a traditional attire, on this day to signify their youth. The young individuals hold ‘husori’ and perform Bihu dance on the courtyard of each house.