Who Are the Rabha?
The Rabha are a Tibeto-Burman indigenous people of Assam and Meghalaya, India, numbering approximately 500,000-600,000 people. They speak Rabha (Rava), a Tibeto-Burman language with several distinct dialects corresponding to subgroups. The Rabha are divided into numerous clans and territorial groups including Rongdani, Maitori, Pati, Koch, Dahori, and others, each with dialectal and cultural variations. They inhabit the foothills and plains of western Assam and the Garo Hills of Meghalaya. The Rabha are known for their vibrant Baikho festival and distinctive textiles featuring geometric patterns.
Baikho Festival
Baikho is the most important Rabha festival, celebrated in mid-April to honor Baikho Deo, the god of nature and prosperity, and to pray for bountiful harvests and protection from disease. The festival involves elaborate rituals performed by priests, animal sacrifices, and community feasting. The highlight is Baikho dance—a graceful form featuring coordinated movements by men and women in traditional dress, accompanied by drums and other traditional instruments. Dances depict agricultural activities, nature, and daily life. Baikho brings Rabha communities together, reinforces identity, and has gained recognition as an important cultural event in Assam's diverse festival calendar.
Textile Traditions
Rabha weaving is renowned for its distinctive geometric patterns and vibrant colors. Traditional textiles are woven on backstrap looms, with women learning the craft from childhood. Rabha textiles feature characteristic designs including diamond shapes, zigzag patterns, and representations of nature. Each subgroup has slightly different design traditions. Traditional dress for women includes the rifan (waist cloth) and riha (upper garment). These textiles serve as markers of Rabha identity and are essential for ceremonies and festivals. While commercial fabrics have affected daily use, weaving continues for cultural occasions and as an income source through craft cooperatives.
Contemporary Rabha
Modern Rabha have Scheduled Tribe status and have organized politically through the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council, which provides limited self-governance in Rabha-majority areas of Assam. Education levels have improved, producing Rabha professionals in various fields. The Rabha language faces pressure from Assamese and other dominant languages; efforts at codification and mother-tongue education continue. Traditional practices including Baikho persist alongside Hindu influences that have shaped Rabha religion over centuries. Economic development remains uneven, with agriculture continuing as the primary livelihood. How the Rabha maintain linguistic and cultural distinctiveness while advancing economically defines their contemporary trajectory.
References
- Das, N. K. (1989). Ethnic Identity, Ethnicity and Social Stratification in North-East India
- Dutta, P. C. (1995). The Rabhas of Assam
- Sharma, B. K. (2006). "Traditional Crafts of the Rabhas"