TRIBES OF MEGHALAYA
Major Tribes : Khasi-Pnars & Garos
A Unique Khasi Tribal Characteristic : Female Property Inheritance
A Unique Garo Tribal Characteristic : Bachelor Dormitories
The Khasi,
Jaintia, Bhoi, War
collectively known as the Hynniewtrep people predominantly inhabit the
districts of East Meghalaya, also known to be one of the earliest ethnic
group of settlers in the Indian sub-continent, belonging to the Proto
Austroloid Monkhmer race.
The Garo Hills is predominantly inhabited
by the Garos, belonging to the Bodo family of the Tibeto-Burman race, said
to have migrated from Tibet. The Garos prefer to call themselves as Achiks
and the land they inhabit as the Achik-land.
THE KHASI-PNARS
The Khasis inhabit the eastern part of Meghalaya, in
the Khasi and Jaintia Hills. Khasis residing in
Jaintia hills are now better known as
Jaintias. They are also called "Pnars".
The Khasis occupying the northern lowlands and foothills are generally
called "Bhois". Those who live in the southern tracts are termed
"Wars".
The Wars
Again among the Wars, those living in the Khasi
Hills are called "War-Khasis" and those in the Jaintia
Hills, "War-Pnars" or War-Jaintias. In the Jaintia Hills we have
"Khyrwangs", "Labangs", "Nangphylluts", "Nangtungs"
in the northeastern part and in the east.
In the Khasi Hills the Lyngngams live in the northwestern part. But all
of them claim to have descended from the 'Ki Hynniew Trep' and are now
known by the generic name of "Khasi-Pnars" or simply Khasis.
They have the same traditions, customs and usage with a little variation
owing to geographical divisions
Traditional Costumes
The traditional Khasi male dress is 'Jymphong' or a longish sleeveless
coat without collar, fastened by thongs in front. Now, the Khasis have
adopted the western dress. On ceremonial occasions, they appear in
'Jymphong' and dhoti with an ornamental waistband.
The Khasi traditional female dress is rather elaborate with several
pieces of cloth, giving the body a cylindrical shape. On ceremonial
occasions, they wear a crown of silver or gold on the head. A spike or
peak is fixed to the back of the crown, corresponding to the feathers worn
by the men folk.
Food & Drinks
The staple food of Khasis is rice. They also take fish and meat. Like the
other tribes in the Northeast, the Khasis also ferment rice-beer, and make
spirit out of rice or millets by distillation. Use of rice-beer is a must
for every ceremonial and religious occasion.
Social Structure
The Khasis, the
Jaintias and the
Garos have a matrilineal
society. Descent is traced through the mother, but the father plays an
important role in the material and mental life of the family.
In the Khasi society, the woman looks after home and hearth, the man
finds the means to support the family, and the maternal uncle settles all
social and religious matters. Earlier in the conservative Jaintia
non-Christian families, however, the father only visits the family in the
night and is not responsible for the maintenance of the family.
Inheritance
Khasis follow a matrilineal system of inheritance. In the Khasi society,
it is only the youngest daughter or 'Ka Khadduh' who is eligible to
inherit the ancestral property. If 'Ka Khadduh' dies without any daughter
surviving her, her next elder sister inherits the ancestral property, and
after her, the youngest daughter of that sister. Failing all daughters and
their female issues, the property goes back to the mother's sister,
mother's sister's daughter and so on.
The Ka Khadduh's property is actually the ancestral property and so if
she wants to dispose it off, she must obtain consent and approval of the
uncles and brothers.
Among the War-Khasis, however property passes to the children, male or
female, in equal shares but among the War-Jaintias, only the female
children get the inheritance.
Marriage
Marriage within a clan is a taboo. Rings or betel-nut bags are exchanged
between the bride and the bridegroom to complete the union. In the
Christian families, however, marriage is purely a civil contract.
Religion
The Khasis are now mostly Christians. But before that, they believed in a
Supreme Being, The Creator - "U Blei Nongthaw" and under Him,
there were several deities of water and of mountains and also of other
natural objects.
THE GAROS
The vibrant and virile ethnic people who reside in the Garo Hills are
known as the Garos. The word Garo has been coined after the name of a
small group of the Garos residing in the central part of the southern
hills. Besides the Garo hills, there are Garo settlements in the plains of
Assam and Bangladesh.
The Garos call themselves "Achik-Mande". In the Garo language "Achik"
means Hills and "Mande", Man. So, Achik-Mande means the Hills
people.
Traditional Costumes
The Garo women used to wear a piece of cloth around their waists and puts
on a blouse or vest. The men usually wear, in addition to cloth, a turban.
On all festive occasions, the Garos, irrespective of sex, wear headdresses
with rows of beads stuck with feathers of hornbill. Males and females -
both wear bangles and earrings. Educated and well-to-do Garos in the towns
wear western dress.
Food And Drink
The Garos have no inhibitions about food. Their chief meals consist of
rice with onions, capsicum and salt thrice a day. Practically all types of
animal foods are taken. Drinks are almost an everyday affair. The liquor
is not distilled, but prepared by brewing food grains.
Social Structure
Birth, Marriage and Death: Birth is a matter of joy not only to the
family, but also to the community. Till death the newborn baby belongs to
the mother's family, irrespective of sex, even after marriage. Lineage is
always matrilineal like the Khasis and the Jaintias. Except amongst the
Nayars in Kerala, this system is not found anywhere in the country. It is
unique among the Meghalayans in the Northeast.
Marriage within the clan is completely prohibited and severely
punishable. Marriage is however, arranged with the formal sanction of the
parents.
Death of a person is not only a loss to the family, but is also mourned
by the entire community. Elaborate rituals are held. Before embracing
Christianity, they used to cremate the dead body, in the presence of all
relations of the deceased. Now a days, according to Christian practice,
the body is buried.
Bachelors' Dormitories
Till now, the institution of Bachelors' Dormitories that is gradually
disappearing amongst the tribes of North Eastern Region, are found in the
Garo villages. In such dormitories young people stay and live together
till they are married. They receive various training in the dormitories
like protection of crops, construction of roads, organising festivals,
sports and ceremonies.
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