Ecological and Social Symbolism of the Egg in the Bodo and Karbi Folk Narratives

Author(s)	Mr. Phakhon Brahma, Dr. Buddhadev Lahary
Country	India
Abstract	The folk narratives of Northeast India embody deep ecological symbolism and reveal a deep connection between human society and their surrounding environment. Within this rich mythological landscape, the Bodo and Karbi folk traditions hold the egg as a central symbol of creation, fertility, purity, harmony, and balance. This study explores how the motif of the egg functions as both an ecological metaphor and a social construct, reflecting communities’ understanding of life, nature, and coexistence. The research adopts a qualitative and comparative methodology, combining textual analysis of selected oral narratives, particularly the Bodo creation myth entitled Boro Kachari jwnwm janayni solo (The origin of Bodo Kachari) and the Karbi epic narrative Mosera, which literally means ‘recalling the past’, with interpretive eco-critical and symbolic approaches. It aims to cover how ecological symbols also embody social values such as harmony, purity, fertility, balance, and communal cooperation. Primary data are drawn from oral narratives and published folk collections, while secondary materials include scholarly works on mythology, ecology, and cultural studies.
Keywords	Bodos, Ecological symbolism, Egg, Folk Narrative, Karbis, Social symbolism, Myth.
Field	Sociology
Published In	Volume 7, Issue 6, November-December 2025
Published On	2025-12-31
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i06.65224

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