HT Bureau
DIPHU, Jan 5: Several Karbi villages across the hill districts witnessed the observance of Rongker Karkli, a traditional sacrificial worship performed to appease local deities Hemphu, Mukrang and goddess Rasinja, on Monday with deep religious fervour.
Rongker Karkli is one of the most significant indigenous religious practices of the Karbi tribe and continues to be observed by followers of the traditional faith in Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao and parts of the plains of Assam.
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There is no fixed date for the ritual, as each village chooses a convenient day, though it is generally observed between January and February after the harvest season, when agricultural activities come to a halt.
Chief Executive Member of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, Tuliram Ronghang, extended greetings to the Karbi people on the occasion.
Praying for positive signs from the ritual, he said Rongker Karkli would usher in prosperity, development and mutual understanding, and sought divine protection from illness, negativity and evil forces.
During the tenure of the Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) in the 1990s, January 5 was fixed to ensure uniform observance of Rongker among Karbis following the indigenous faith.
However, after the Congress returned to power in the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, the date was shifted to February 5, following the Karbi New Year celebrated on February 1.
The primary objective of Rongker is to seek divine protection from diseases, natural calamities and evil spirits, while praying for good health, prosperity and a bountiful harvest for the coming agricultural cycle.
The ritual also symbolises unity, as elderly men gather at the Rongker ground, setting aside past differences, while women and young girls prepare food at the residence of the rong a sarthe, the traditional village headman, for a common feast.
Festive spirit prevailed in villages observing Rongker, with decorated welcome gates erected at the entrance of Rongker grounds.
Children were seen moving between the residence of the rong a sarthe and the ritual ground, watching preparations of rice, vegetables and meat from sacrificial offerings.
Among the villages observing Rongker on Sunday was Chandra Sing Terang village at Rongmonjir along the Lumding Road.
Led by village headman Chandra Sing Terang, elderly villagers assembled at the Rongker ground early in the morning.
Despite cold and gloomy weather, preparations began with the cleansing of the raised mud platform for the ritual, followed by traditional rites.
Various sacrificial offerings were made to different deities by designated elders of the village, following customary practices.
Later in the day, meat from the sacrificial offerings, along with rice and vegetables, was shared during a common feast at the Rongker ground by elderly men and boys, accompanied by traditional rice liquor.
Women and girls held their feast separately at the residence of the rong a sarthe, in keeping with Karbi customary norms during sacrificial worship.
