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.