Bathou Bwrai- are two words from Bodo language. Bodo are the inhabitant of Assam. They have rich cultural and economic traditions.
Bathou - Ba means five and thou mean “deep philosophical thought”; Bwrai- the oldest or most elderly man in power and knowledge. The five elements are- Bar (Air), San (Sun), Ha (Earth) and Okhrang (Sky). Hence, Bathou means five principles.
The traditional religion of the Bodos is called Bathou which has been practiced since time immemorial. This religion is invariably linked up with and centre around the worship of Bathoubwrai, the supreme god of the Bodos. Hence it is known as Bathou religion. In Bathou religion, the Sijou plant (Euphorbia splendens) has been widely accepted as the symbol of life or soul .