Bathow Puja: How the Bodo Community Worships Nature as the Supreme God

Guwahati: Bathow Puja is considered as one of the most important religious festivals of the indigenous Bodo tribe of Assam. Bathow is referred to as the supreme god of the Bodo people. Popularly known as the Bathow Bwrai, he is believed to be the creator of the five elements: earth or soil (Ha in Bodo), wind or air (baar), fire or sun (or), water (dwi), and sky or emptiness (okhrang).

He is considered the keeper of the five elements, or Panchatatya, so many people identify him with Lord Shiva. In fact, many people also keep a trishul in his altar, symbolising Lord Shiva.

Bathow Bwrai is sacredly worshipped in various occasions like the BodoNew year (Bwisagu), Magw Domasi (makar Sankranti), Garja, kherai, Kati gasa, Wngkham gwrlwi janai, Langamara Puja, Mainao Fwrbw, etc.

To be more precise, specifically the Bathow Puja that is celebrated by every Bodo village on the second Tuesday of the Bodo month of Magw (Magha). This day is known as Gwthar Bathow Saan, and this is the day all Bodo people worship Bathow in their village temples. In this puja, the Sijou tree is worshipped as a symbol of Bathow along with 18 primary gods and goddesses and Mainao Buri and Baghraja.

During this occasion, Bodo women mostly wear the yellow-colored plain Langa Dokhona known as Bidon. It is not like that; you have to wear this only. Women can wear any type of Dokhona, but yellow Langa is preferred at some places. Women also wear white langa dokhona or white ogrong dokhona since in Bathow Puja, there is a ritual of ceremoniously bringing Goddess Mainao (Laksmi) from the Deori’s home (Bodo priest).

The elderly women mostly wear yellow or green ogrong dokhona, while young women prefer wearing the yellow langa dokhona.

Talking to DY365, Chandrakanta Basumatary, a school teacher and the former president of MMES (Manas Maozigendri eco-tourism society) and ABSU member, said, “It is one of the most sacred and important festivals of the BODO people. As we refrain from idol worshipping, the Sijou tree is considered a form of our supreme god. Ours is a tradition of worshipping nature, and this month is very sacred to us.”

“People of our community today offered prayers and will light earthen lamps near the Sijou tree, marking the auspicious beginning of Bathow Puja,” said Basumatary. 

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