Divine Rhythm of Bodoland In Assam

A slow melodious chorus of voices floats out of a small shed in a village in Udalguri. Inside, a group of women, all similarly clad in yellow "dokhonas" (a traditional Bodo wrap from chest to ankle) and white "falis" (a wrap around the bust) are singing along to the beat of the "kham" (an indigenous drum), and the "sifung" (a flute) played by young men. A priest is at the altar, lighting lamps and incense. Outside the shed, elders sit, nodding to the music. This is the scene at the village Thansali or Bathou temple, where the small community gathers to worship the Bwrai Bathou, the Supreme Being of the Bodo pantheon. Nearby, there is a larger, more formal thansali called the Nwlwbari Bathou Ashram, which comes alive on festival days, attracting many people from surrounding villages.