3.6 Social Organisation and Political Life

The Chutiyas have different social organizations in their village life, In every village there is a village head man. The village headman conduct the law
and order situation in the village. He has associates to help in maintaining the lavv and order situation in the village. They are known as Bora, Buruk, Ivieloki, Bar Adelaki, Batik etc. The village people are also divided into four divisions based on their age group viz. Bura-burhi Somaj, Deka Sornaj, Buari Sornaj and Gorokhio Sornaj. The first division contains of old men and women who maintain the social and religious beliefs and practice in the village. In the Burn
Sornoj there are one Hotulo, one Bhoroli, one Mecifhi, four or five Dearis, two Nornloguos, a_ group of Bolikatios, Nomghorios, Bor(k, Pachani etc. Every portfolio has a specific duty. The Hotuip is the chief of religious practices of the Chutiyas. The Sharon is the storekeeper of the religious places like Mons and NoAghars. The Medhi is the collector and depositor of goods and he deposits and receives collection from the village to the treasury. The Deories are the distributor of goods and Prasad in the religious functions or Puja or Sakarya. The Norriloguos read and recite the religious scriptures and they start the religious prayes. The balikotios cut the sacrifice animals like buffalo, goat and duck which are offered to the deity by the people. The nanighoria's duty is to maintain the than (temple) and narnghar. The bark distributes messages to the villages.
The next village organization of the Chutiyas is Deka Sornaj (young)
k
which k very strong and in the principal work force of the village. The young people assemble in the Deka sang or Sangho and they take all kinds of decision on their. In Deka soma/ there is one Doipati or Noyak, one Deka Bora and one Tiri Bora. The Dolopoti is the chief of the Deka Somaj. The Deka Bora organizes the village young boys and he is the leader among the young boys. The liri Bora is the organizer of the young girls of the village. He has the responsibility of every young girl during the time of the festivals. The Deka soma. maintains law and order situation in the village with the help of the village headmanand his associates. The Deka somaj organizes the cultural activities like Bihu Huchari, Zeng Bihu (performed by girls at jungle in Night) Meji Bihu, religious festivals like takhimi Sokam, Kechoikhati Puja, village diety puja etc. They also organise the community fishing and in Hati- Kheda (driving way elephant) and other community works. The deka somaj also helps the village people in the death and marriage rituals with heart and soul.

The third group of the Chutiya society is Buari Somaj, The Buari Soma] is the strong work force basically in the cultural and religious festivals. In the festivals they look after the reception of the Bhaktas and the guest.

The last group of Chutiya village organization is the Gorokhia Somaj, Which consists of the children and the preadolescents boys known as cowherds. Every group of cowherds have some specific rules and regulations, This cowherds society enjoys a coulorful life. They spend their time in playing the Tanguti, Hori Cabadi, Ghlio, Pengkheia, luiro vaku, Ali-Singh, Dhup, Footbal etc. They maintain a strong unity among themselves. Historically the Chutiya gorokhia somaj is very popular in the society. There are some popular legends prevalent among the Chutiyas about the gorokhia sornaj. The gorokh/o somoj traditionally follow the ancestor wors(ip of garokhiyo dongoria in the field near the jungle by sacrificing this malevolent spirit in ancient time. There are several gorokhio do! (a tinny break temple) situated in the Chutiya populated area. In every gorokhia sornaj there is a Dolopoti who leads the organization and they annually observe the gorokhio somaj near the jungle_ The Chutiya people also observe some pujas or sokam for the welfare of domestic animals viz Guhali sokorn, gorokhia bhog, jokh pujo where the gorokhias (cow boy)

necessity to attend these pujas for worshipping this malevolent spirit.

The Horio mora is one of the important community working systems prevalent. among the Chutiyas. To harvest the agricultural products they call the village people in Haria Moro (community work). The villagers help this family by collecting the agricultural crops and by building their house, This system strengthens the social unity.