A Study of the Role of Folk Songs in Preserving the Culture and Heritage: A Case Study of Bodos

Abstract

The folk song is an important element which is preserved the cultural heritage of the community that receipt from the ancestors and transformed it from one generation to another. It is the cultural source of the community standing on which a society can give their identity. The folk song plays an important role in narrating past social pictures and unwritten history of the society that are unknown by the people of present generation. In northeast India, the Bodos have their own distinct culture which gives their identity. The cultural elements of the community have been preserved in folk songs since immemorial period and reflected while these are sung in festivals and ceremonies. We know that through lyrical storytelling and symbolic imagery, folk songs offer insights into the customs, rituals, and folklore of the community, fostering a deeper appreciation for cultural diversity and intergenerational continuity. In this paper, an attempt has been made to study how folk songs play a role in repositioning culture and heritage, preservation of linguistic traditions, indigenous knowledges, and ancestral wisdoms.