Liangmai people

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Liangmai
Kwoireng, Liyang, Liangmai jat
Luangdimai (Zeliangrong) Traditional Attire.jpg
Liangmai traditional attire
Total population
60,000 approx. (2011) [1]
Languages
Lianglad
Religion
Majority:
Christian cross.svg Christianity [2]
Minority:
Polytheism
Related ethnic groups

The Liangmai people are a Tibeto-Burmese ethnic group that inhabit Nagaland and Manipur states of Northeast India. Their villages are mostly spread across the Peren district in Nagaland and Tamenglong, Senapati in Manipur. They are a part of the larger Naga tribes and have a similar language and culture. A majority of the Liangmais practise Christianity while a small section in Tening village of Nagaland still adheres to traditional Heraka religious practices. [3]

Etymology

The word “Liangmai” is a compound word made up of liang + mai. Here, liang is construed as kyliang means a ‘sector in a village’ and mai means people, which is best translated as “a group of people from one sector”, probably referring to a group of people from one segment of Makuiluangdi village. Secondly, liang is interpreted as north, which means people from the north. The interpretations are closely connected and possibly accurate as the Liangmais settled in the Northern part of the present Hamai (Zeliangrong or Luangdimai) territory. At the same time, the Liangmai people might be a number of people from the same kyliang or sector in Makuiluangdi village who lived there as the ruler of the land. [4]

Liangmai Clans

Liangmai oral tradition speaks of two primary ancestral clans: Pamai, and Newmai (also spelled Niumai). These two ancestral clans gave rise to many sub‑clans over generations through branching lineages and migrations. The ancestral homeland is said to be around the area historically called Makuilongdi, considered the cradle of the Zeliangrong, including Liangmai people. Migration stories tell of movements due to inter-tribal conflicts, resource needs, or spiritual revelations, leading to dispersion into present-day Nagaland and Manipur. Clans are often associated with specific totems or symbols, such as animals or birds, which hold spiritual significance and regulate social customs. For example, the Green pigeon is linked with Pamai clan and the Newmai with the Drongo. Liangmai clans are exogamous — one cannot marry within their own clan, promoting alliances and social cohesion across clans. Elders and clan leaders play a vital role in settling disputes, conducting rituals, and safeguarding customary law. [5]

Malangmai, Thiumai, Daimai, Abonmai, Marenmai (also Marianmai or Marienmai), Parinmai (also Panmai), Rimai (Remmai), Dirinamai, Jiunamai, Nkhpuinamai, Chawangduimai, Chawang, Dichongdamai, Mantriaktamai, Makuimai, Singbengmai, Ijiutaa Daimai, Inkingtaamai, Rikangmai, Rampuinahmai, Dunahmai, Kainahmai, Chalunmai, Poitamai, Nkenahmai, Buijanahmai, Bungnahmai, Nroumai, Nchatmai, Wijunahmai, Matrairepuinahmai, Charigoutamai, Genpuinahmai, Charenahmai, Dinahmai, Khiuliangmai, Kalengtamai, Moitamai, Tingnahmai, Penmai, Maijintamai, Wisontamai, Jongtamai, and Namditamai. [6]

References

  1. ↑ "A-11 Individual Scheduled Tribe Primary Census Abstract Data and its Appendix". Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  2. ↑ Religion data of census 2011 cpsindia.org October 2016 Archived 1 December 2022 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ↑ , Google AI overview of the Liangmai Tribe.
  4. ↑ Marienmai, Maisuangdibou (7 January 2022). LIANGMAI NARRATIVES: An Integral Look at History, Society, Culture. Winco Books. p. 33-34.
  5. ↑ "Origin and Migration of Zeliangrong" . Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  6. ↑ "E-PAO" . Retrieved 1 August 2025.

Further reading

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