Rongmei people

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Rongmei
Kabui Woman.jpg
Rongmei/Kabui women
Total population
170,800 (2011 Census)[ citation needed ][ verification needed ]
Regions with significant populations
Northeast India
Languages
Rongmei language
Religion
Tingkao Ragwang Chapriak,Christianity, Poupei Chapriak.[ page needed ][ citation needed ][ verification needed ]
Related ethnic groups
Zeme, Liangmai

The Rongmeis (also known as Kabui) are one of the Naga ethnic communities of North-East India. They are recognised as a scheduled tribe (STs) in the Constitution of India. [1]

Contents

They share similarity with their kindred tribes of Zeme, Liangmai and Inpui, which together are known as Zeliangrong. Some historians and anthropologists have earlier recorded them as Kabui along with Inpui people.[ citation needed ]

Festival

The Gaan-Ngai festival (post-harvest festival) is celebrated annually between December and January. It follows the lunar calendar and is celebrated on the 13th day of the Wakching or Gaan Ngai buh. It is celebrated to worship the Supreme God Haipou Tingkao Ragwang. [2]

Rebellion

During the Colonial period, under the leadership of Haipou Jadonang [3] and his successor Rani Gaidinliu, [4] the Rongmeis along with other Zeliangrong tribes rebelled against British rule in the 1930s.


See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maiba</span> Meitei male religious leader

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Meidingu Hongnemyoi Khunjao Naothingkhong was a Meetei ruler of Ningthouja dynasty of Ancient Manipur. He was the successor of Ura Konthouba and the predecessor of Khongtekcha. He ran away from the Kangla at the age of about 10 or 12 years and went to live along the Shelloi Langmais in the Nongmaiching Hill in the eastern Manipur. He was mad in love with Pitang-nga, a Langmai girl and married her. They lived in her parents' house. This is the first reference to the matrilocal residence in the history of Manipuri ethnicity. According to ancient sources, he has six wives from different clan principalities of Ancient Manipur. In fact, he has nine total wives, out of which three are childless. So, in general cases, it is regarded as he has six wives. He married Princess Ewanglon Namun Chaobee after engagement. Luwang Ningthou Punshiba of Luwang dynasty gave training of state craft and the art of governance to Naothingkhong when he was a prince. Besides, the great-grandson of Luwang Ningthou Punshiba married Naothingkhong's daughter.

Tingkao Ragwang or Tingwang is a god of the Zeliangrong people of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland states in North Eastern India. He is considered as the almighty god who created the universe including the sun, moon and the earth, after which life began. Heraka and Tingkao Ragwang Chapriak are the two traditional religions based on the fundamental belief of Tingkao Ragwang, followed by the Zeliangrong people. The annual Gaan-Ngai festival is dedicated to Tingwang.

References

  1. "The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes): Order, 1950". Ministry of Law and Justice (India).
  2. "Rongmei celebrates Chakaan Gaan Ngai 2024 in Kohima". Morung Express. Morung Express. 25 January 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  3. G. K. Ghosh (1 January 1992). Tribals and Their Culture in Assam, Meghalaya, and Mizoram. Ashish Publishing House. ISBN   978-81-7024-455-4 . Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  4. Kusumlata Nayyar (2002). Rani Gaidinliu. Ocean Books. ISBN   978-81-88322-09-1 . Retrieved 12 June 2013.