Bottle Gourd: Part and Parcel of Karbi culture

Abstract

Bong<i style="">,</i> gourd shell <i style="">(Lagenaria siceraria</i> Standl.<i style="">)</i> is essentially an integral part of Karbi culture and regularly used during Adam-asar or marriage and worships. The seeds of bottle gourd are believed to have been gifted by a Karbi God, Songsar Recho, the creator to the ancestor of the Karbis and till today gourd seeds are considered as one of the assets of the tribe. Songsar Recho is also considered as the custodian of all crops. Investigation further revealed that before the introduction of Bong into Karbi society, a fruit of Nong-nong (<i style="">Thunbergia grandiflora</i> Roxb.) was used as Bong for storing <i style="">Horlank</i> or rice beer and leaves of Phle-phle<i style=""> (Premna latifolia</i> Roxb.<i style="">) </i>were rolled into cones and used as <i style="">Lankponk </i>(traditional drinking pot made out of bamboo) during marriage. Probably it was a symbolic exercise performed by a learned Karbi to demonstrate the use of <i style="">Bong</i> during marriage. The present work enumerates data collected from Chinthong region particularly around Baithalangso where gourd shells are believed to have taken its root.