বাংলাদেশের সিলেট জেলার জৈন্তাপুর উপজেলার জৈন্তিয়া জাতিসত্তার ‘হকতই’ উৎসব : রীতিনীতি ও সামাজিক-ধর্মীয় সম্প্রীতি প্রেক্ষিত/ Bangladesher Sylhet Jelar Jointapur Upozilar Jainta Jatisottar ‘Hoktoi’ Utsob : Ritiniti O Samajik-Dhormiyo Sompriti Prekkhit

Abstract

Indigenous Jainta (Commonly known as Khasi) people live in Jaintapur upazila of North Eastern district of Sylhet in Bangladesh. The Jainta people observe a social cum religious festival termed as ‘Hoktoi’. They celebrate Hoktoi on ‘Saptami Tithi’ of ‘Shiklopokkha’ of Bengali Lunar calendar.

             In the festival the Janita people decided the programme for the salvation of the departed soul of their deceased ancestors and show gratitude to the God. They trust during this time, souls of the ancestors visit their houses. Then they offer a religious rite called ‘Siangja’ and dedicate food to the offerings. Not only this rite, in the festival, they exchange pleasantries and especially homemade cake, puli and other sweetmeats to the relatives & neighbors of their ‘Jum’ (Village /Hati). This sort of ritual is the outcome of their existing strong bondage of friendship and fellow feeling. In this research work the very nature and rules and regulations of ‘Hoktoi’ festival have been sought. As no institutional research work has not been done till today, so Qualitative Method has been adopted in the research. Much emphasis has been put into the field work for information. At Toashi Hati of Nijpat, Jaintapur, Sylhet both older & younger people of Jainta were interviewed for the information. The whole festival was observed & felt in person. And invited guests were interviewed at the festival.

            The conclusion of the research shows that Hoktoi festival of Jainta is not only a ritual but also a symbol of solidarity of the Jainta ethnicity and inter community unique medium and platform for fraternity.