GARO ARCHITECTURE
Material Used: Timbers, Bamboo, Cane and Thatch
Type Of Architecture: Nokmong, Nokpante, Jamsreng, Jamatal
Generally one finds the similar type of arts and
architecture in the whole of Garo Hills.
They normally use locally available building materials like timbers,
bamboo, cane and thatch.
Architecture Classification
Garo architecture can be classified into following categories:
Nokmong: The house where every A'chik household can stay together.
This house is built in such a way that inside the house, there are
provisions for sleeping, hearth, sanitary arrangements, kitchen, water
storage, place for fermenting wine, place for use as cattle-shed or for
stall-feeding the cow and the space between earthen floor and raised
platform for use as pigsty and in the back of the house, the raised
platform serves as hencoop for keeping fowl and for storing firewood, thus
every need being fully provisioned for in one house.
Nokpante:
In the Garo habitation, the house where unmarried male youth or
bachelors live is called Nokpante. The word Nokpante means the house of
bachelors. Nokpantes are generally constructed in the front courtyard of
the "Nokma", the chief. The art of cultivation, various arts and
cultures, and different games are also taught in the Nokpante to the young
boys by the senior boys and elders.
Jamsreng: In certain areas, in the rice field or orchards, small
huts are constructed. They are called Jamsreng or "Jamap".
Either the season's fruits or grains are collected and stored in the
Jamsreng or it can be used for sleeping..
Jamatal: The small house, a type of miniature house, built in the
Jhum fields is called Jamatal or 'field house'. In certain places, where
there is danger from wild animals, a small house with ladder is
constructed on the treetop. This is called "Borang" or 'house on
the treetop'.
