From Fear to Fascination
Uncovering the Myths and Mysteries of the Asur Tribe
Durga Puja has always been a fascinating occasion for me as someone who grew up in a Bengali home. I was always fascinated by the numerous components that comprised this spectacular festivity. The mention of the Asur in the legendary accounts was one of the most interesting parts for me.
As a kid, I was perplexed by them since they were scary in the stories, and I was terrified to picture what they looked like, as represented by my grandmother in my bedtime stories. As I grew older, I discovered that the Asur are a real tribe on this planet. Because of my childhood anxieties, I was first hesitant to learn more about them.
However, as the pandemic spreads in 2020, I began to search for all of the Durga Puja elements. When I began physically attending college in 2021 after taking online programs, one of my lecturers recommended the book "Everybody Loves a Good Drought." This book contained a plethora of information about India's many tribes, including the Asur.
I discovered a unique component of their culture that left me thinking. It was amazing to read that, while the rest of the world was celebrating the victory of virtue over evil on Vijaya Dashami, the Asur tribe was mourning the murder of their ruler, whom they think was unjustly killed by the Aryan goddess.
During a college function in September 2021, I got the opportunity to meet a senior student named Karnika Toppo. Karnika Di quietly shared her village's name and location while we talked about academics. It was as if a flame had been lit inside me, and I knew I had to pursue my interest in order to understand more about the Asur tribe. We started planning our journey to Karnika's hometown after she agreed to help me. She informed me that her siblings planned to visit the area around Durga Puja, which was ideal timing for me. I was curious about how the Asur people celebrated their festivals and their traditions.
I enthusiastically accepted Karnika di's invitation to accompany her to her village for Durga Puja. This was my first solo project as a fledgling photographer, and I was ecstatic to be going on a new experience. I was filled with both enthusiasm and trepidation. It was my first trip with complete strangers, I'd only known Karnika di for a week, and I had no idea what to anticipate.
My enthusiasm, however, was not dampened by my health condition. I was resolved to learn more about the Asur tribe, their culture, and way of life. As we headed to her village, I was captivated by the breathtaking elegance of Jharkhand. The lush hills, brilliant blue skies, and fresh air made me forget about my health issues.Throughout our journey, Karnika discussed her memories growing up in the village, her family's customs, and her connection to the Asur tribe. Her anecdotes provided me a glimpse of the region's rich and diverse cultural history. As we approached her village, I was greeted with the wonderful hospitality of her family. The following several days were full with fresh encounters and lessons.
Joseph Asur and his family in his ancestral home
When I began exploring the Asur, I had some preconceptions about how they celebrated Durga Puja. I expected them to have their own customs, rites, and practices that were distinct from what I had witnessed growing up. However, to my astonishment, the truth was totally different.
When I arrived in their hamlet during the Durga Puja festivities, I discovered that the Asur group did not have any special rituals or customs. They were only drinking mahua, a native alcoholic liquor, and sleeping in their homes. There were no grandiose pandals or huge processions as I'd seen elsewhere.
It was the polar opposite of what I had imagined. I was first astonished and disappointed, but as I spent more time with the Asur community, I came to understand why they approached the celebration the way they did. For generations, the Asur group has faced discrimination and oppression, and as a result, they have lost a substantial portion of their traditional identity.
During my stay, I also come to know about the major problem, who had lost a big portion of their identity as a result of prejudice and forced conversion. It was a sobering reminder of the consequences of cultural assimilation and the value of keeping one's roots. These encounters and lessons were absolutely altering.
However, I did learn about the primary issue the tribe was facing while I was there. Because of discrimination, forced conversion, and modernization, they had lost a substantial portion of their identity. It was a sobering reminder of the dangers of cultural assimilation and the need of maintaining one's roots.
These experiences and insights were genuinely life-changing. Despite the fact that my quest for the Asur was not totally successful, due to limited resources and time, I was unable to unearth what I had hoped for.
This encounter, however, had just piqued my interest, and I knew that one day I would return to continue my hunt for the Asur.
