Songsariya Garja Puja of the Bodo Community

The Bodo community annually performs the Songsariya Garja Puja, also known by other names like Bhela Hogarnai or Mwdai Hogarnai, in every village. This puja is rooted in the belief that Garja Mwdai, a deity, is constantly visiting and consuming from the world. Each Bodo village has a designated, permanent location for this puja, typically chosen on an auspicious day after Bwisagw.

Preparations for the Garja Puja involve cleaning the Garja Sali (worship place) and constructing Bithas (altars) a day prior. A central, larger Bitha is made, with smaller huts built over each Bitha. Altars for holy deities are placed to the North of the main Bitha, while those for evil deities are to the South. The DOURI (priest) and villagers then gather at the DOURI's residence for a meal.

On the morning of the puja, the DOURI and elders inspect rice left at the Garja Sali. If the rice remains undisturbed, the village is considered holy; if scattered, it suggests a curse. Following this, a meeting (DOUDIN ASHRAINANWI) is held where villagers chew rice or touch fire to identify offenders. Identified offenders are purified before the worship proceeds.

The actual worship begins with offerings to holy deities. Subsequently, evil deities are symbolically chased out of the village on horseback towards their Thansali (worship place) at the corner of Garjasali. After the worship and offerings, the evil deities are ritually taken to a river bank.

The Bodo community, like many tribal societies, is deeply rooted in folk beliefs and superstitions, which form an unwritten social law. These traditions, though often lacking modern logical explanations, are revered and help regulate societal conduct, embodying customs and etiquette. Some superstitions are believed to contain practical wisdom and can foster a religiously disposed outlook.