Assam’s Tiwa and Rabha communities, who live in a cluster of ten villages in Meghalaya’s Marngar, a few kilometres away from Nongpoh in Ri Bhoi district, organised their annual community fishing festival, or ‘Hulao Mara’, on the eve of Bohag Bihu, celebrating age-old cultural traditions despite the geographical and administrative distance from Assam.
The residents of the ten villages in Meghalaya, locally known as the Marngali, observe traditional Assamese culture and traditions despite living outside Assam. The ten villages — Lalumpam, Joygaon, Barkuchi, Barkhat, Borgang, Puran Gaon, Nalapara, Charikuchi, Chai, and Athgaon — are located 6 km from Nongpoh and 50 km from Guwahati.
The Hulao Mara festival was held at the Kochu Khua Beel in Lake Marngar on Bohag Bihu to mark the Assamese New Year. Villagers gathered early in the morning with their jakoi, khaloi, pol, chepa, fishing nets, and other fishing gear along the wetland to participate in the community fishing festivities.
Everyone, from the elderly to men, women, youth, and children, took part in the celebrations, reflecting a shared heritage and collective identity. Villagers engaged in social interactions, community fishing, folk singing, and dancing.
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A local farm worker and fisherwoman, Tarali Doloi, was at the festivities to fish alongside her husband and three children, hoping to catch enough fish to secure a few days’ worth of meals.
She said her family has been tied to Assamese heritage and culture for generations, and that they engage with their community during traditional Assamese festivals and rituals without fail, as it connects them and reminds them of their roots in Assam.
Large crowds from neighbouring villages were seen humming and dancing to traditional tunes while fishing together in perfect harmony and synchrony. However, villagers reported a decline in fish availability compared to previous years, with many of them ending the day-long fishing activities tired and empty-handed.
Namal Kumar Rabha, one of the participants, was among the less fortunate villagers who went home empty-handed. He said there used to be enough fish in the beel for each of the hundreds of fishermen who have been coming here for the festivities for ages, but due to deforestation, unregulated development, and indiscriminate construction in the area over time, the number of fish found in the lake has declined rapidly. The festivities continued in full swing nonetheless.
Participants enjoyed traditional music and dance performances along the banks, forgetting all about the poor fishing day and celebrating the occasion regardless.
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