Khiamniungan people

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Khiamniungan Naga
Total population
120,000 approx. in Myanmar and 61,647 (2011), Nagaland [1]
Languages
1 Patsho Khiamniungan 2 Khiamniungan language
Religion
Approximately 99%[ citation needed ] Christianity and 1% Animism
Related ethnic groups
Naga people

The Khiamniungans are a Naga ethnic group, with approximately 35% of the population inhabiting in Noklak District in the Northeast Indian state of Nagaland and the rest in the Naga Self-Administered Zone and Hkamti District of Myanmar. [2] They were also called Kalyo-Kengnyu ("slate-house dwellers") during the British Raj. [3]

Contents

History

The origin of the Khiamniungans remains uncertain but the earliest consideration that generally traces back to a place called Khiamnyunga. There are no written records of their history before the British Raj days. However, the only source of information about their ancestors are oral traditions in the form of folktales and myths.

According to a popular myth, Khiamniungan means "source of great waters" - the place from where the early ancestors of Khiamniungan are said to have originated. This place is identified near Lingnyu-Tshüvau villages, under Patsho Range, overlooking from the present-day Patsho and Noklak towns. [4]

Today, the Khiamniungans occupy the easternmost part of India and northwestern part of Myanmar. In India, they are mostly found in Noklak district of Nagaland state and the rest in Naga Self Administered Zone and Hkhamti district of Saigaing Division, Myanmar. The mighty Chindwin river flows through the land of Khiamniungans.They are linked linguistically as well as culturally to the Tibeto-Burman. [5]

During the British Raj, the Khiamniungans were referred to as "kalyo Kenyu", particularly in the works of anthropologists such as Christoph von Fürer-Haimendorf. Unlike several other Naga people, the advent of Christianity had little impact on the Khiamniungan for a long time, due to their remote location. The first Khiamniungan to convert to Christianity was Khaming, in 1947. [6] Thereafter, a number of Khiamniungans converted to Christianity. After the coming of the new education system, social system, modernization and Christianity, there have been drastic changes in their social life.

Society of the ethnic group

The traditional Khiamniungan village had eight important people: [7]

  1. Nokpau or Nyokpao (war leader)
  2. Pütshi or petchi (peace maker, elder)
  3. Ampau, Meyo, meya (priest)
  4. Keoh loumei (doctor)
  5. Ie or Ain (priestess and oracle)
  6. Shualang or sonlan (blacksmith)
  7. Pautheu or paothai (story teller)
  8. Ainloom (the keeper of the a supposedly magical stone; the stone is said to warn of any impending disaster such as a fire or a raid, by moving out of its basket or by creating a sound through striking another object)

By the early 1990s, only the Putshi, the Shualang and the Ainloom remained relevant, others being remembered mainly as part of books and oral tradition. [7]

Culture

The traditional Khiamniungan attires consist of bright red and bright deep blue colored dresses. The ornaments are made of cowries and conch shells.. [8]

The ethnic musical instruments include drums made of gourds and bamboo flutes.

Language

Most of the Khiamniungans in India are acquainted with Patsho Khiamniungan which is also one of the main languages within their geographical region. [9]

Festivals

Miu

The Khiamniungan people, who traditionally practised jhum cultivation (slash and burn agriculture), celebrate the Miu festival at the time of sowing. They offer prayers for a good harvest. [10]

Tsoukum

Tsoukum is the week-long harvest festival of the ethnic group, celebrated in October. The festival includes dancing, singing, cleaning, repair of the roads, and outdoor cooking and eating. In this festival the people invoke god's blessing for a bountiful harvest. [11]

Seisei-ie

A wordplay or pun is one of the unique cultures of the Khiamniungans since the inception of the villages. Traditionally it was played between villages in the form of competition unlike today's norm of performing for entertainment purposes. [12]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naga people</span> Ethnic group of South Asia

Nagas are various ethnic groups native to northeastern India and northwestern Myanmar. The groups have similar cultures and traditions, and form the majority of population in the Indian state of Nagaland and Naga Self-Administered Zone of Myanmar (Burma); with significant populations in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in India; Sagaing Region and Kachin State in Myanmar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tuensang district</span> District of Nagaland in India

Tuensang District (Pron:/ˌtjuːənˈsæŋ/) is a district in Nagaland, North-East India. Its headquarters is in Tuensang town.

The Lothas, also known as Kyongs are a major Naga ethnic group native to Wokha District in the Northeast Indian state of Nagaland.

Khiamniungan is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken by the Khiamniungan people in east-central Noklak District of Nagaland in northeastern India and in northwestern Burma. Most of the Khiamniungans in India are acquainted with Patsho Khiamniungan which is also one of the main languages within their geographical region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yimkhiung Naga</span>

The Yimkhiungs are a Naga ethnic group inhabiting the territories of Shamator and Kiphire District in the Northeast Indian state of Nagaland and western areas of Myanmar.

The Changs are a Naga ethnic group inhabiting the Northeast Indian state of Nagaland. They were also known as Mazung in British India. Other Naga ethnic groups know the Changs by different names including Changhai (Khiamniungan), Changru (Yimkhiung), Duenching, Machungrr (Ao), Mochumi (Sümi) and Mojung (Konyak).

The Phoms are a Naga ethnic group native to the Northeast Indian state of Nagaland. Their traditional territory lies between the territories of Konyak in the north-east, the Ao in the west and the Chang in the south. Phoms celebrate several festivals in a year of which Monyiü is the greatest. It is celebrated from April 1 to 6 every year. Other traditional festivals include Moha, Bongvüm and Paangmo. They primarily inhabit the Longleng District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noklak district</span> District of Nagaland in India

Noklak District is the 12th district of the Indian state of Nagaland. It was established on January 20, 2021. Noklak, the eponymous town, is the headquarters of the district.

Noklak is the headquarters of Noklak district. The district was officially inaugurated by Nagaland's Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio on January 20, 2021, and is located in the easternmost part of India. Noklak district is the headquarter of Khiamniungan Nagas in the Indian state of Nagaland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patsho</span> Village in Nagaland, India

Patsho, or Pathso, is a village in Noklak District, located in the eastern part of Nagaland, and one of the biggest villages in Noklak District. It is situated at an altitude of 1415m above sea level. The village is 37km away from Noklak District and 72km from Tuensang, Nagaland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patsho Khiamniungan</span> Sino-Tibetan language spoken in India

Patsho Khiamniungan is a language spoken in Noklak District in Nagaland, India. The language is gradually refining and grammatical development is underway.

Tsuikuap of the Khiamniungan is not just singing and dancing but deeply rooted to cultural identity and contains deep meaning.

Tsoukum Sümai is a Post-sowing or Pre-harvest festival of the Khiamniungans of Noklak district, Nagaland, India, celebrated in the month of September each year in the olden days.This is mainly observed to give thanks to the Almighty Deity for blessing abundant crops and safeguarding lives in the family.

A Nütsah is a traditional shawl created and woven by Khiamniungans of Noklak district in north-eastern India. The Nütsah could only be worn by the wealthy and warriors who had successfully taken the heads of enemy warriors. In modern times, the right to wear the Nütsah is associated with any male individual in the family as a demonstration of cultural acceptance, signifying ancestral fierceness and a distinctive symbol of the Khiamniungan Nagas.

Wui is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken in Wui village, Noklak District, Nagaland, India. There are just under 1,000 speakers.

Patsho range consists of numerous villages in the western part of Noklak district Nagaland. It is endowed with distinct culture and abundance of natural resources inherited by the people of Khiamniungan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khautsausie</span>

Khautsausie is a harvest festival celebrated every January by the Khiamniungans of Noklak district Nagaland state, India. It is alternatively called and spelled Khaozaosie-Hok-Ah, Khaozaosey-hok-ah and sometimes called Khaozaosie..

Wui village is located in Thounoknyu circle of Noklak district in Nagaland, India. It is situated 32 km away from sub-district headquarter Thounoknyu and 128 km away from district parent headquarter Tuensang. The language most widely spoken is Patsho Khiamniungan and Wui language that of the Patsho people there.

Langnok village is located close to the international boundary between India and Myanmar.It is administered within Nokhu circle of Noklak district in Nagaland, India. It is situated 18km away from sub-district headquarter Nokhu in Khiamniungan region Noklak

References

  1. ↑ "CENSUS OF ST". CENSUS INDIA. MHA GOI.
  2. ↑ Ved Prakash (2007). Encyclopaedia Of North-east India Vol# 5. Atlantic. pp. 2137–2139. ISBN   978-81-269-0707-6.
  3. ↑ Hamlet Bareh, ed. (2001). Encyclopaedia of North-East India: Nagaland (Volume 6). Mittal. p. 259. ISBN   978-81-7099-787-0.
  4. ↑ THE LAND OF CULTURE TUENSANG "KHIAMNIUNGAN TRIBE"
  5. ↑ "NAGAS IN MYANMAR: PEOPLE OF THE FORGOTTEN LAND - The Morung Express". morungexpress.com. 21 January 2024.
  6. ↑ Albie Sachs; Geeti Sen (2001). "The Making of a Freedom Fighter". India International Centre Quarterly. India International Centre. 28: 99.
  7. 1 2 Sushil K. Pillai. "Anatomy of an Insurgency: Ethnicity & Identity in Nagaland". SATP. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  8. ↑ "Nagaland Traditional Dress - Infinity Learn". infinitylearn.com. 21 January 2024.
  9. ↑ "From oral tradition to written language - The Patsho Khiamniungan and Mongsen Ao dictionary projects - THE GLOBAL COUNCIL FOR ANTHROPOLOGICAL LINGUISTICS". glocal.soas.ac.uk. 21 January 2024.
  10. ↑ "MIU & TSOKUM - KHIAMNIUNGAN TRIBE - Government of Nagaland - Department of information and public relation". nagaland.gov.in. 21 January 2024.
  11. ↑ "Noklak: Khiamniungan tribe celebrates Tsokum festival - Nagaland Tribune". nagalandtribune.in. 21 January 2024.
  12. ↑ "Yesterday's lifestyle today's identity Sanglau community celebrates culture and traditions-Nagaland Tribune". nagalandtribune.in. 21 January 2024.
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