Rabha

Rabha refers to an indigenous ethnic group in Northeast India, concentrated mainly in the Indian state of Assam, with communities in parts of Meghalaya, West Bengal, and cross-border populations in Bangladesh. The Rabha are commonly grouped with the Rabha–Kachari family, a linguistic and cultural cluster. They call themselves Rabha or Rongrabha and are distinguished by a distinct language and customary practices. The Rabha language belongs to the Tibeto-Burman branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family; most Rabha are bilingual in the regional lingua franca, such as Assamese or Bengali.

Traditionally, Rabha society has been agrarian, with weaving and handicrafts as secondary livelihoods. Rural communities organize around clan networks and villages, with a rich oral tradition of songs, myths, and folktales. Major Rabha communities inhabit districts like Goalpara, Kokrajhar, and Kamrup in Assam.

In Assam, the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council represents Rabha-majority areas and administers certain local governance matters under state law. The Rabha are officially recognised as a Scheduled Tribe in Assam, and their culture includes distinctive dances, music, and festive observances, alongside broader regional cultural influences. Religious practice varies, with Hinduism being prominent alongside indigenous religious traditions and syncretic practices.

The Rabha have faced social and political changes tied to regional development, land rights, and identity preservation, and continue to maintain cultural heritage while engaging with broader Indian society.