Kathalpara village in Boko, along the Assam–Meghalaya border, will celebrate the sacred Bathou Puja on January 27–28, marking 25 years of the annual ritual. The Silver Jubilee festivities will feature cultural performances and are expected to be attended by BTR Chief Hagrama Mohilary, Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council CEM Tankeswar Rabha, and other dignitaries.
Preparations have seen active participation from the village’s diverse communities, including Garo, Rabha, and Gorkha residents, reflecting inter-community harmony. Bathou Puja, observed on the second Tuesday of the Assamese month of Magh, involves worship of the Sijou plant, symbolizing life, balance, and the five elements of nature, central to Bodo spiritual and cultural identity.
