In Search of Hau: A Mystery Unrevealed?

Mrityunjay Barman & Anuj Choudhury

You might have frequently come across the term ‘Hau’ or have frightened a kid saying, “Don’t go there; Hau will come.” The word Hau is often uttered by Koch parents or elders to horrify and control their kids’ behaviour. But have you wondered what exactly is ‘Hau’? Is Hau a ghost, a monster, or an animal? In fact, no one knows exactly of its origin and how the term came into use. The term Hau has been loosely used to scare children and has been passed down from generation to generation as oral history. Like in the Indian state of Assam, in Meghalaya too the Hau is very popular. In Meghalaya the Hua is a human with a wooden black mask with a movable jaw, which comes along with a bell and a sword. These items have been preserved for generations by Sri.Kularajan Barman’s family of Lotibari village, Goalpara, Assam, who later shifted to Tikirkilla, 5 km from Lotibari village. Barman’s family currently resides in Tikirkilla,  West Garo Hills, Meghalaya. But interestingly, the family traces its ancestral roots to Purnia region in Bihar from where two brothers Ram and Beer migrated eastwards. Sri. Kularajan Barman claims to be the 10th generation of Ram. As per oral historical narratives of the family, the head of the family used to wear this mask during battles, and later the same was used while going for hunting. The mask comes with a set of a bell called dalaghata, similar to a bell which is tied around cow’s neck and a sword (unfortunately, Barman’s ancestral family had sold it). While hunting, the bell was used to make different rhythm to attract a deer or tiger. The hunter would secretly hide behind the bush and suddenly appear in front of the prey, shocking the animal and quickly stun the prey with his sword. Since such hunting practises have been given up at present, usage of the mask along with its accessories—the sword and the bell has also stopped. Today, the fearful mask lies now as an heirloom in Barman’s house passed down for generations. However, its name Hau stands immortal among the Koch community and is still used today to scare the hell out of naughty kids!