Khiamniungan people

Khiamniungan

Regions with significant populations
Nagaland, India Burma
Languages
Khiamniungan language
Religion
Christianity, Animism

Khiamniungan is one of the minor Naga tribes, mainly found in the Tuensang district of Nagaland, India and the adjoining areas of Burma.^[1]

The tribe's name is also spelled as Khaiamnungan, Khiamnungan or Khiamungan. They were also called Kelu-Kenyu ("slate-house dwellers") during the British Raj.^[2]

History

According to the local folk stories, the Yimchungers and the Khiamniungans migrated to the present-day Nagaland from Upper Burma as one group, in one wave. They separated into two groups at the Moru village.^[1]

Unlike several other Naga tribes, 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.^[3]

Tribal society

The traditional Khiamniungan village had eight important people:^[4]

1. Nyokpao (war leader)
2. Petchi (peace maker)
3. Meya (priest)
4. Meshwon (doctor)
5. Ain (priestess and oracle)
6. Sonlan (blacksmith)
7. 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 Petchi, the Sonlan and the Ainloom remained relevant, others being remembered mainly as part of books and oral tradition.^[4]

Culture

The traditional Khiamiungan attire consists of bright red and bright deep blue colored dresses. The ornaments are made of cowries and conch shells.

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

Miu festival

The Khiamniungan tribals, 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.

Tsokum festival

Tsokum is the week-long harvest festival of the tribe, celebrated in October. The festival includes dancing, singing, cleaning, repair of the roads, and outdoor cooking and eating.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Ved Prakash (2007). Encyclopaedia Of North-east India Vol# 5. Atlantic. pp. 2137-2139. ISBN 9788126907076. 
2. ^ Hamlet Bareh, ed (2001). Encyclopaedia of North-East India: Nagaland (Volume 6). Mittal. p. 259. ISBN 9788170997870. 
3. ^ India International Centre quarterly. 28. India International Centre. 2001. p. 99. 
4. ^ ^{a b} Sushil K. Pillai. "Anatomy of an Insurgency: Ethnicity & Identity in Nagaland". SATP. http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/publication/faultlines/volume3/Fault3-GenPillaiF.htm. Retrieved 2011-10-24.