There was a day,
When,
Water is flowing across hills to the valley
With the water, wave of sound is scrolling
melody of song and dance
Sprawl from hills to plains
everything glint up
‘Hoi la lia.... hoi la lai ..... ‘!
Rivers said to its people
In the hills “Barat’ is going on
Their women are determined to safe their nature and children!
Winds are blowing
From valley to the hills
In the wintery evening
Everything drenched by the aroma of new rice
The winds also carry the hum of ‘Mai Pathala’
Hills said to its people
Their young men are processing harvested paddy!
Now?
“Only sterile hills are there
Only sluggish waters are there”
People?
They are weeping around
for land, water and food.
‘Barat’ and ‘Mai Pathala’are two specific activities associated with Tiwa tribal communities of Assam,India. ‘Barat’ is rituals where women go fasting and praying to almighty for the safety and security of nature and their fallow members of the family. After the break of fasting a celebration is organized where everyone sing and dance. Mai Pathala’ is process of separating rice grain for its plants , where paddy with plants are arraigned on earthen floor above which young boy sing and dance . Ultimately owners are happy and new paddies were collected safely.