Explore the historic Netai Dhubuni Ghat in Dhubri, Assam: A blend of folklore and natural beauty

Netai Dhubuni Ghat, located in Dhubri, Assam, is a historically significant site, an ancient town situated on the banks of the mighty Brahmaputra River, a special place full of natural beauty and peace, a hidden gem that only a few people know about.

Dhubri, a district along the international border, was once called the 'Gateway to Assam' because it was adjoining West Bengal's, Coochbehar district in the west and a large part of the independent Bengali country on the other side. Dhubri was the only way to enter Assam, not just from West Bengal, but also from anywhere in India, by train, road or waterways.

Dhubri, the origin of the word "Dhuburi,” is connected to the legendary figure of Netai Dhubuni, a laundress who supposedly washed clothes for the gods and goddesses at a small ghat (a bathing and worship place). Netai Dhubuni Ghat, commonly known as 'Pathar-ghat' or 'Pahar-ghat'. The pre-historic river ghat story in question is related to the tale of Behula-Lakhindar, in which Lakhindar, the son of Chand Sadagar, and Behula, his spouse, are major characters. 

What is the story behind Netai Dhubuni Ghat?

According to the folklore of Manasa Mangal poetry, Behula, the youngest daughter-in-law of Chandradhar Sadagar, met with Netai Dhubani, the washerwoman of the Devatas (Hindu Gods), and requested that she take her to the Gods with a prayer of resurrection for her dead husband (Lakhindar, the son of Chandradhar Sadagar who died of a snake bite). 

When the water of the river recedes, there are also a few stair marks floating on the rocks in the middle of the river, and it is seen that there is a sign of a big foot, folk belief, on this ghat. The name of this ghat became Netai Dhubuni Ghat of Dhuburi gradually changed with the passage of time and became 'Dhoba Budi's Ghat' in a short face and from this word 'Dhoba Budi' this area became Dhuburi or Dhubri.

Other contexts show that the word Dhubri comes from the 'Bodo' word doi+bouri=doibouri. The word 'doi' means water, and the word 'bouri' means river bank or dry place. As a result, "Doibouri" is the root of the word "Dhubri" or "Dhuburi." While there are two possible origin stories for the name Dhubri, the majority of people think it came from the mediaeval Bengali literature, specifically from the narrative of Manasa Mangal poetry.

The uniqueness of the name and geographical location of the ghat highlight the town's intricate association with the Brahmaputra River, which has a distinctive horseshoe-shaped course and is significant to Assamese local and regional history. In Dhubri, Assam, there is a unique location with tranquilly and breathtaking scenery called Netai Dhubuni Ghat.

An influential phase in the history of human society is the migration and subsequent colonisation. Up until 1809, Rasik Chowdhury was the zamindar of Dhubri Pargana. Rasik Chowdhury sold his zamindari to Dhir Chandra Baruah the zamindar of Gauripur, towards the brink of his life, as his financial situation worsened and he was nearly in a state of despair. After that, the zamindar of Gauripur has acquired control over Dhubri.

Historical facts

Before 1874, Netai Dhubuni Ghat, Dhubri mainly formed a part of the Koch Rajbongshi Kingdom. In 1874, the British Government established the Assam Valley Province. It incorporated the Goalpara district into the new province, including the three civil subdivisions of Netai Dhubuni Ghat, Dhubri, Goalpara, and Kokrajhar. In 1981, Goalpara district was dismantled to create a total of four districts, namely, Dhubri, Goalpara, Kokrajhar and Bongaigaon.

Dhubri's importance as a result of district bifurcation became much less, and it was considered one of the most minority-concentrated districts in India. Most of these populations are Bengali Hindus and Muslims, Koch-Rajbongshi, and Goalpariyas. Assamese, Goalpariya, and Bengali are the main languages spoken in this 'Land Of Rivers'.