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Like the Kacharis, Mishing, Garos and other
aboriginal tribes of the Northeast the Rabhas too have their stock of
legends, which are supposed to explain how the earth and the lives
appeared and how they began to worship different animated and inanimated
objects and to live in a certain area. This ancient legend is also the
source of the 'Marugeet', the long devotional song sung during Khaksi
Puja, the late spring festival of the Rabhas.
Customs, Traditions & Religious Beliefs
The
Rabhas practise monogamy. They observe a yearly festival for the dead
Kings of the clan, which is known as "Farkhanthi". Their biggest
festival of the year is Baikhu, also called Khaksi, which appears to be a
fertility festival.
The Rabha People
The Rabhas speak a language different, but not quite so from that of the
Kacharis. Both belong to the same branch viz. Assam Burmese. The Rabha
language is spoken at present by a handful of the tribe who belong to
Rangdaniya and Maitoria groups. The village economy is mainly based on
agriculture. Almost cent percent of the Rabha people are agriculturists.
The Village And Household
Rabha village inhabited either by the Rangdiniya or the Maitoria
sub-group. Their house is a two-roof affair. But for the plinth it looks
like a Deori or
Mishing house.