Rajini and Harni Gabra Festival

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.Rajni 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.
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.

Dimas tribe residing in Assam celebrates annual festival of Rajni Gabra and Harni Gabra. This is socio-religious festival celebrated at the time of the new harvest. Rajini Gabra is celebrated during day and village gates are closed by the head of the village during the pooja rituals. On the same night of Rajni Gabra the ritual of Harni Gabra is performed where the governing deity is worshipped for the welfare and protection of the community. None of the members of the tribe are supposed to leave the village during the ritual, also anyone is not allowed to enter the gates of the village. The entire ceremony is considered failed if anyone enters the closed gates of village in-spite of seeing the closed sign. In such a case the person who spoils the ceremony has to bear the cost of all the arrangements to carry out the festival.
Rajini Gabra and Harni Gabra are celebrated for good harvest. The festival is significant with the peace and harmony within the community. During the Rajini Gabra of the Festival of Rajini Gabra and Harni Gabra in Assam, the tribal chief of the village, ‘Kunang’ appeases the family deity by closing the village gate on the day of the worship. During the night of the same day, the presiding deity is worshipped. This puja is meant for the security and prosperity of the village people. This particular ceremony is known as the Harni Gabra.

This function is called Harni Gabra. An interesting feature of this festival is that if any outsider enters the functions after the gates are closed, then the celebrations are considered spoiled and the intruder has to bear the cost of starting the functions afresh.