89 অসমীয়া ব্যাকৰণ আৰু ভাষাতত্ত্ব of the people. This is perhaps a corruption of the Indo-Aryan religion. This is sub-divided into 2 sects (1) Barkhelia and (2) Puthimachia, The Barkhelia sect indulge in meat and drink and make no distinction of castes. The Puthimachia sect eschew meat and drink but follow the Barkhelia cult in all other respects. They recognise only one Supreme Being. A Brahman priest has no place among them. Festival: The Somvario:-The Vedic Indians had a general popular festivity known as Samara' to which women went to enjoy themselves, to win fame, bowmen to gain prizes in archery, etc. This probably survives in Assam in a slightly altered form in the annual Sonwaris (or Bhathelis) which are held almost in every village, generally in the month of Bahag. | Manage custom (1) Forms :-Ancient custom enjoins generally monogamy : man and woman should live in wed-lock till death. In Vedic literature marriage is called the clasping of the hands, which is to be made before the elders and superiors of the marrying parties in the place of worship. This is the Vedic Mbm form of marriage. In Assam this form pre- vails as also the Ageautdia and Joran forms in which no Hom ceremony or a Brahman priest is required. This is exactly the custom among the Himalayan Kaltas although they are completely under the Brahman influence. | (2) Child Maniae was against the practice of the Vedic Indians. The bride was never a child. She was a fully developed woman well- trained in the management of household duties. She is described in one verse of the Rigveda as Vyakia (fully developed ) The custom of Svayamvara (marriage by self-selection) itself precluded the idea of child marriage. In Assam, unlike the custom of other parts of India, both boys and girls are married when they are grown up. This is also the custom with the Western Aryans. (3) Widow re-moriage :-Among the Vedic Indians remarriage of windows was in vogue. In one verse a widow is thus addressed :— “Rise up, 0 woman, thou art lying by one whose life is gone : come 1 See Macdonell and Keith's Vedic Index of Names and subjects, Rig. 10.85.36. "Grhnimi te saubhagataya hastam maya patya jaradastiryathasah, Bhago aryama savi puramdhir mahyamtadurrhapatyaya deah." ১ See The Indian Forester, Vol. LX., p. 799. ---Life in a Himalayan Valley-by E. c. Mobbs, 1.ES. 1 “Udirnvatah patichati hye is vivavasur namasa sorViroje. Any mischa pit paidam vyaktanate bhago jonusa tasyaviddhi"-RK. 10.85.21.
