About Deori People

The real explanation of the term” Deori” is not given convincingly by the Sociologists.

The word `Deori' comes from the word Deu meaning great, wise and O and R denoting male and female respectively. Deori thus refers to a great or wise male/ female human being. Accord­ing to UN Goswami's Deori-Chutia, the term Deori refers to a person who is well-versed in worshipping God. Hemkosh (1900) refers to Deoris as one of the disobedient tribes who live on the plains of Assam. Chandrakanta Abhidhan (1933) says they were originally hills people, now living in Assam plains as a priestly class of the Chutiyas. Sir Edward Gait says the Deoris are the priestly section of the Chutiya kings of Sadiya who worshipped the Goddess Kundi-Mama or Gira-Girachhi, Tamreswari or Kechaikhati and Baliababa.

Dr. Banikanta Kakoti opines that the word Deori is originated from a Sanskrit word “Debagrihik”. "They (Deoris) are a new Indo-Aryan for­mation connected with devagrhika."

According to that point the ancestors of Deori came to Assam from the mountain “Himgiri”and lived in the North of Assam.

Himgiri may probably be the Himalayas. It has already mentioned above that Deoris are classified into four groups. Each group is known as according to their habitation.

(a) Dibongia –Who live in the bank of the river Dibong (River Dibang).
(b) Tenaponya – The inhabitants of the riverside of Tengapani.
(c) Bogeenya – Who live in the bank of the river Bornoi.
(d) Patorganya – undisclosed (This group is still missing)The Deoris were leading a prosperous and peaceful life in Sodiya when some hilly tribal people invaded them (as per mentioned above). They left Sodiya for good within a night making their way to an uncertain destination sailing through the river the Brahamaputra. Proceeding downward through the river the Brahmaputra. Ultimately they reached Sivsagar and Lakhimpur Distrcts and established themselves there. They tried to keep relationships with Assamese people to promote mutual co-operation and give their mother tongue. Only Dibongia Deoris use their own language and now keep it well.

HOUSE TYPE:Deori people build their traditional house by using bamboos, woods, canes, reeds etc. They believe in typical “Chang Ghar” (a raised platform). The lower part of the house is used as an enclosure for the animals. The floor has certain holes in it and they pass the unnecessary victuals to the animals. A corridor is enclosed to the mid of the house or in a side by which they can differ various rooms for certain purposes. The fire-place is attached with the ‘Chang’ and they call it as “Dudepati”.

They cooked various meals in it and eat them sitting around the fire-place. A platform remains enclosed to the house for cleaning various things. Such a platform is also built (by somebody) at the entrance of the house. It is to be noted the Deori people keeps faith in God and hence they build a place (in the home) containing an altar for praying.