"Koch Rajbongshi Bash Puja: Celebrating the Sacred Bamboo Dance"

Bash Puja: The Sacred Ritual of the Koch-Rajbongshi Community | Kokrajhar, Assam The Bash Puja is a significant religious ceremony of the Koch-Rajbongshi community, performed for the welfare and prosperity of mankind. Its primary purpose is to eliminate dangers, diseases, and promote well-being. Traditionally held during the Krishna Paksha of Bohag (the second fortnight of Baishakh), the timing may vary by region. In this puja, 21 gods and goddesses are worshipped, with icons and flags made for 15, while the remaining 6 are revered without symbols.Puja Rituals: 15 Jati Baah bamboos (10-11 feet) are adorned with sowor and cloth—8 with white, 4 with red, 2 with multicolored, and 1 with blue cloth. Masks of Lord Shiva or Goddess Kali are crafted from thermocol. The puja begins on a Saturday and ends on a Tuesday, or vice versa. On the first day, it starts with Haridhwani, Uruli chants, and lighting earthen lamps. The Deo-dha, embodying the deity, dances, chants mantras, and offers solutions to devotees’ problems. On the fourth day, two dingas (boats) are prepared for immersion in the river, carrying puja materials, a goat, pigeons, and a hen. After the dingas are set afloat, the Basuwas immerse their bamboos in the river and return home silently. For seven days, lamps are lit at the deity’s mandir, and on the eighth day, the Ashtamongola ceremony concludes the puja with offerings and a vegetarian feast.This video captures the essence of the puja—the Deo-dha’s dance, Ayoti women chanting Uruli, Basuwas dancing with bamboo poles, and the riverbank immersion. Witness the vibrant heritage of Koch-Rajbongshi culture! 📍 Kokrajhar, Assam 🔔 Subscribe for more cultural videos and hit the notification bell! #BashPuja #KochRajbongshi #AssamCulture #TraditionalRituals #Kokrajhar