Sacrifice in Primal Religions - Socio-economic & Religious Impacts and Role of the Church Towards the Dimasa Kacharis of Assam

Sacrifice, the fundamental ritual through which a religion performs its function in society has been found in religions all over the world and inevitably has extensive impacts upon the socio-economic and religious life of the practitioners. This research determines the impact of sacrifices on the socio- economic and religious life of the traditional Dimasa Kacharis in Dima Hasao district of Assam, whose religious heritage, handed down orally from generation to generation has managed to survive dynamically in the face of modernization and the influence of major religions. It provides some suggestions and prospects for remedying the negative impacts of sacrifices without intruding upon the religious beliefs of the community. The study also highlights the role of the Church towards a more effective and holistic Christian mission among the Dimasa Kachari community.

An ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church of India, Cachar Hill Tribes Synod, Rev. Lalchawiliana Varte graduated from Haflong Govt. College under Assam University. He obtained his B.D. (2006) and M.Th. (2014) degrees from Aizawl Theological College, Mizoram, under the Senate of Serampore College (University). He has served as a Pastor under the Cachar Hill Tribes Synod in Haflong and Phai pastorates within Dima Hasao District of Assam. Currently, he is a faculty member of the Aizawl Theological College in the Department of Religions.

The traditional Dimasa Kacharis of Dima Hasao in Assam, India, have their own religious heritage handed down orally from generation to generation. This traditional religion has managed to survive lively in the face of modernization and the influence of major religions. However, the huge amount of livestock and other sacrificial items makes these sacrifices very expensive. This research, therefore, attempts to determine the impact of sacrifices on the socio-economic and religious life of the traditional Dimasa Kacharis.

This book provides an anthropological overview of the traditional Dimasa Kacharis, giving a brief description of their social institutions, economic life and the traditional religious beliefs and concepts. Furthermore, in order to identify the importance of sacrifices in the traditional Dimasa Kachari religion, the various community and individual sacrifices of the traditional Dimasa Kacharis have been described, highlighting their purposes, the necessary preparations and the sacrificial rituals.

It gives me a great pleasure to write foreword to the book entitled "Sacrifice in Primal Religions: Socio-economic and Religious Impacts and Role of the Church towards the Dimasa Kacharis of Assam". The book is the product of a research done by Rev Lalchawiliana Varte who is presently teaching as an assistant professor at the Aizawl Theological College in the Department of Religions.

The fundamental concern of the book is to help readers to understand and identify the poor condition of the Dimasa Kachari Community, which is perhaps due to illiteracy and negligence by the Assam Government. The author has taken special care in highlighting the impacts that have been brought about by the animal sacrifices on the different aspects of life of the Dimasa Kachari Community of Dima Hasao District, with Haflong as its district headquarters. The Kacharis believe that deaths, diseases and accidents are by the malevolent spirits and offering sacrifices of pigs, fowls, ducks and goats to appease them is must.