Wanchua - A Festival of Tiwa Tribe of Assam, ...

Wanchua - A Festival of Tiwa Tribe of Assam, India

Author Name : Dr. Himashree Hazarika

ABSTRACT Assam being one of the state with richest biodiversity in the world is also home to different tribes. This state encompasses eighteen major tribes, which includes both plain and hills. Tiwa community inhabiting in this state are also found in the neighboring state of Meghalaya in northeastern India. This community is also known as Lalung in the Assamese Buranji (History), colonial literature and in the Constitution of India, though members of the group prefer to call themselves Tiwa. The word Tiwa means the people who were lifted from below. They are recognize as a Scheduled Tribe within the state of Assam. Among the several festivals o the Tiwas which include three Pisu(Bihu), Borot utsav,Sogra phuja,Jonbeel mela etc., Wanchua is one of the most cherished festival of the community. It is a festival where the Tiwamen pray and celebrate the arrival of the monsoon to mark a good harvest. With relevance of Assam being and agriculture state, majority of the festivals are related to traditional cultivation. As the belief goes, Wanchua is a festival of expressing gratitude to the deity by the community.