Rongker is an annual winter time festival of merriment observed by the Karbis of Assam. It is also known as Dehal in Dumra Longri i.e. Kamrup Metropolitan district of Assam and Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya. It is observed in order to appease the local deities, associated with the welfare of the village and the harvest of crops and also to get rid of all evil happenings.

Time of the festival

The festival does not have a specific time although it is usually observed after the end of rice harvest, or at the beginning of the Karbi New Year (February). The festival is usually celebrated either on 5th January or 5th February. Different villages may observe it at different time depending entirely on their convenience. Usually many urban region that doesn't dwell in agriculture celebrate it early on 5 January, and agricultural region usually celebrate it later on 5 February.

Celebration

The rituals

The festival lasts for three days. All the villagers contributes in cash and kinds and donation are also collected from the neighbouring villages in order to meet the expenses of the rituals. The festival is divided into four major parts:

The set-up of the site

10 earthen altars against all the deities are installed in the eastern side of the site where the festival is to be held. They are constructed in a row heading south-north direction and named after the deities. The shape of the altars are made in such a manner so that the respective gods can rest there comfortably. Although 12 deities are worshiped, only 10 altars are set up since Hemphu, and Rasinja are regarded as brothers and sister, Mukrang is the husband of Rasinja and they share a common altar. A gourd with tapering mouth full of the first made rice beer is placed on the altars in the name of the respective deity. Although except the gourd full of rice beer, nothing else is placed on the altars, however, two small branches of bamboo are erected on the altar of Ningding Sarpo, a few branches of Basil and a few bamboo sticks are erected on the altar of Murti and a branch of Fongrong (a kind of tree used for worshipping god) is placed on the altar of Arlok.

Deities worshipped

During this festival total 12 deities are worshipped. They are namely:

Feast

The whole village or at least one member from every house gather for feast after finishing the rituals.

Taboo observed

Taboo observed during the festival:

Some Karbi words associated with the festival