RAJINI GABRA & HARNI GABRA
Celebrated By : Dimasa Tribe
Festivity Dance : Dimasa Dance
Significance : Observed Before The Start Of New Cultivation Season.
Rajni
Gabra and Harni Gabra are the annual festivals of the colourful Dimasa
tribe. It is exclusively a socio-religious festival, which is generally
observed before the starting of new cultivation.
The Ritual
Rajini Gabra is celebrated during the daytime. The 'Kunang' or the
village headman propitiates family deity by closing the village gate on
the puja day. The same night the function called 'Harni Gabra' is
performed where the presiding deity is worshipped for the protection and
welfare of the people.
A Peculiarity
It is very interesting to note that during the Rajini Gabra and Harni
Gabra festival if any outsider enters the village in spite of seeing the
sign of closing gate, the entire function is considered to be spoilt. Then
the intruder has to bear the total cost for holding the festival anew.
