Tribes of Manipur

Here are more than 33 Scheduled Tribes in Manipur, each with their distinct and different practies and ways oflife. These tribes collectively present a composite picture of a richly variegated cultural mosaic. The tribes inhabiting the different parts of the State have a wide range of diversity in dress and costume, folklore and tradition, beliefs and customs, music and dance. One of the interesting aspects of tribal art is the traditional wood carvings on different parts of the house, door gates and totem poles. These wood carvings are symbolic of certain practices, such as, the honouring of brave warriors and persons of status in their tribal society. None other than the person or persons who had slain the tiger were allowed to carve the motif of the tiger on the front walls. Among the more prominent reliefs carved on the wood panels are human figures and human head motifs in high relief. Human figure carvings can be divided into four categories, viz. I (i) carvings of human heads, (ii) full anatomy of the human body, (iii) carvings of simple parts of the human body, and (iv) Carving of simplified I human figures. Such wood carvings are readily seen on the traditional houses in Canings of bmrnm figure and buffalo     the Mao- Maram- Purul area head motif on the village door gate. Punanamei village, Seaapatl District.   The traditional houses of the village chiefs in these areas are interestingly decorated with different motifs, of which the carvings of the human head and human figure are quite prominent. The human head motifs carved on the village chief’s house at Purul are rounded in shape. Compared to these, the human heads seen at Oinam village are relatively smaller, lesser by two times the actual size of the human head. The Tangkhul traditional houses have carvings of human heads in hexagonal and pentagonal shapes. Sometimes, full human figures are carved but the head and the body are separatedly done. This peculiar carving can be seen on the headman’s house at Tusom village in Ukhrul District. At the same time, there are’ several carvings that conceal the’ form of the human limbs in trapezoid -impression. Interestingly, nude human figures are carved in a pictorial presentation at Nungbi village in Ukhrul District. It is equally interesting that the main pillar of the Ahongyum (traditional richman’s house of . the Rongmei tribe) have carvings of the female breasts. The exhibi-tion of Mithun head trophy on the front wall panel or main pillar of the house is regarded as a symbol of status in their society. The Mithun is an expensive animal and not everybody can afford to sacrifice a Mithun to achieve status in their society. The sacrifice of a Mithun on a social 1 occasion is generally done by wealthy and able persons in the village. Therefore, the display of Mithun head trophy at the front of the house indicates the wealthiness and social status of the house-owner. Thus, Mithun and buffalo head motifs are carved on the front wall panels and main pillar of the house to indicate the status of the individual or individuals in their society. Another very interesting aspect is the carving of tiger motif to indicate social status of • the individual. The tiger is regarded as a ferocious animal and therefore theperson in the  village who could hunt and kill a tiger single- handedly was treated with awe and bravado. The hero is entitled to carve the motif of tiger on the front wall panel of his house. No other person is allowed to decorate their house with the’ tiger motif, unless he is authorised to do so by the village’s ribal council. Tiger motifs are seen on the front wall panels of the chief’s house in Purul village in Senapati District.Separate panels also display hunters slaying tiger. Caniags: of human figures with headgears in high t~lief tm lhe “uuden wall panel of traditional ric1umm”S hOlJR. l:.llf”llUl Khullen village. Senapati District. The depiction of the heavenly bodies like the Sun, Moon and the Stars are also seen either carved or painted on the front wall panels or the gable of traditional houses of the Maomei, Maram and Poumai tribes in Senapati District and ofthe Tangkhul tribe in Ukhrul District. Figures carved in geometrical patterns, such as, circular discs, triangular blocks, etc. are also seen. At Tusom Khunjao village, there is a sort of pyramidal, Gothic type symbol locally called Kongra which is representative of the presiding deity of the ravines below the hills. Other objects like spear heads and handles, scabbards, wooden seats, etc. are also carved on the front wall panels.

GANGTE

The Gangtes, one of the scheduled Kuki-Chin tribe of Manipur are found distributed in Tamenglong, Churchandpur and Senapati Districts, but majority of them are found in Churchandpur. Their population is 12,793 as per the latest report available. The Gangtes believe in the emergence of their progenitors from sub-terranean origin through a cave as evidenced in their Lawula Dance. They have migrated from the Chin Hills in Burma (Myanmar) and thence to Lushai Hills and finally moved to Manipur. Although most of them have now been converted to Christianity, they still remember their animistic life style. Dance and music are the essence of their raditional festivals like the CHAPCHAR KUT, CHAVANG KUT, MIM KUT etc. in which they dance with the accompaniment of their traditional musical instruments like KHUONG, DAH and Buffalo Horn. Dance group of Gangte would present LOM-LAAM number. SOUNLUN (Sub-clan of Gangte) : A dance group of Sounlun would present their traditional dance number – SA-AI LAAM.

MOVON

The Moyon tribe is distributed in 13 villages of Chandel District of Manipur, such as Moyon Khulen, Komla Thabi, Pomaiching, Heikrutampak, Mitong etc. They are one of  he oldest Tribes of Manipur. They also laimed that their original Tribe name is Pakan just as the Monsangs do. They believed their origin is from a cave. They possess physical characteristics of Mongoloid stock. Monsangs are their neighbour and as such every aspects of their culture is also similar to that of Monsang. The main festival of the Moyon tribe are Di din, Berjkap festival, EKON ERU etc. In Berjkap festival the spirits are exorcised by shooting arrow. The Moyon Tribe would present their traditional songs and dances namely JUNG GRAI LAAM.

MARING

The Marings are one of the oldest tribes of Manipur having a population of 15,698. The Maring Naga differed from the Nagas in the North in many other characteristics. This ethnic group is midway between the Naga and Kuki.They are found distributed in the Chandel, Ukhrul and Thoubal District. According to their legend the Marings believed that they have emerged from a cave in Burma (Myanmar). They also believed that the mouth of the cave was opened by the help of a Mithun. The non- Christian Marings tie their hair in a knot on their forehead.The Maring Nagas present their traditional culture describing the release of a fish ritually in a river. They also present their war-dance known as KHOUCHONGBA. This dance depicts the victory of the Maring Naqaanctheir joy in defeating their enemies. In this dance form, the dancers would show their vigorous movement with the accompaniment of sword and shield made out of the hide of the Mithun.

ANALS

The Anals are one of the scheduled tribes of Manipur, majority of whose population is concentrated in 45 villages of Chandel District of Manipur. As per the latest census, their members are little more than 10,000 people. The Anals claim that they have originally migrated from Mongolia from where they shifted to upper Burma, thereafter they moved to the hills of the Manipur. Their physique possesses marked Mongolian features. Earlier, they lived in pile dwelling houses made of wooden planks, like the old Kukis. Ekam is the biggest social festival of the Anal tribe which can only be performed by the riches man of the village because he has to feed the whole village for a week. They would present their taditional six dance numbers called KORDOM-KORDOM, SI-OH-HRONG-OH, KARENG-OH-JUNG, RA-CHE-NOH, MANIFA-HONG-PA and SATI-OH.

THADOU

The Thadou is a major tribe of Manipur. According to the latest report their total population is 1,22,000 – the largest tribe included in the Schedule.They habitat mainly in the Churachandpur and Senapati District. The Thadou belongs to the Mongoloid stock and speak a dialect of Northern Kuki-Chin group of Tibeto-Chinese linguistic family. The origin of the Thadou is shrouded in mystery. According to their legend, the Thadou lived below the earth and came out of it. The Thadous are migratory people and do not settle at one place permanently. Before adopting Christianity, the Thadou believed in the omnipotent PATH IAN as the creator of Universe. They performed various festivals viz, (a) CHON, (b) LAWN, (c) KIVIA and (c) HUN. Festivals are accompanied with the dances of either Lamta or Laohomlaam. Musical instruments used by men are Gosem and Maite and different types of pipes made either of reed, gourd or bamboo.
The Thadou of Gangpijang will present their traditional four dances namely – KHUMKOM LAAM, GOSEM LAAM, TOIPI LAP LAAM and HALGAI LAAM which express the nature of their journey which they took during the course of their migration and reach their destination after a hazardous journey.

KHARAMS

The Kharams trace their origin to a cave on the north of Manipur. It is in conformity with their folk-song. After coming out of the cave they lived together on the west of Makhel at MakuiLangdi Langdai. The Kharams then moved southwards following the course of the Gwai River (Barak river) until they finally settled at Khodungsei takboi and cultivated the fields at Raiyangjol Leijangphai, a place bordering Lushai Hills. While they were still at Khodungsei takboi, they came into clash with other tribes and this led to their migration to Meitei principality. The Kharams have their oral history that once King Khagemba (1562 – 1677) the successor of King Chalamba of Manipur stayed at the present Kharam Pallen village waging war against Takhels. The Knararns are almost a vanishing tribe of Manipur, having a population of meagre 500 people confined in a small village called Kharam Pallen. The Kharams would present their traditional dance called SIMLAAM.