Bodo Society Widow Remarriage Custom

In Bodo society, a socially approved marriage allows a widow to bring a new groom into her home to live a conjugal life. The man who marries the widow, known as Dongkha Habnai Haba, traditionally must reside in her house for the rest of his life.

A key custom involves the groom presenting the widow with a silver coin, saying 'dinwiniprai ang nwngni, nwng angni' ('from today you are mine, I am yours'). This act of giving the coin is called gangkhon hwnai. The new husband must leave his own family and relatives, and before doing so, he worships Anan Gosai (God).

A large feast is organized for the villagers, featuring jau (wine), oma bedor (pork), and wngkham (rice). Specific offerings are made to Bwrai Bathau, including a pair of chickens (daosa jorase), a pair of earthen pots of homemade wine (jau gisi dabkha jorase), dhup-dhuna, and a pair of betel nuts and leaves (goi jora-pathwi jora), accompanied by hymns.