Khelma/Sakachep

Khelma/Sakachep are one of the Kuki or the Mizo tribe.This tribe is one of the smallest tribe in Kuki community. They mainly inhabited in areas of Assam's North Cachar Hills, Cachar and karbi Anglong. We can find Khelma/Sakachep tribe in Jaintia hills in Meghalaya and some lives in Peren district in Nagaland.The life style and habitat are closely resemble to the other tribe of the kuki or the Mizo Community. Among the inhabitants of N.C. Hills district the Sakachep also known as Khelmas are one of the smallest community. The Khelmas have close resemblances to the Hrangkhols and the Baites in language, customs and traditions. The Khelmas cremate the dead like the vedic Hindu in olden days. 90 % of the population are christians these days. Besides, this community is entirely dependent on agriculture for their livelihood.The Khelmas also celebrate different festivals which are connected with worship of different gods and goddess during a year. The Khelmas also have a number of folk songs for different accessions. Their songs are generally slow.Parsem Kut is one of the biggest festival they celebrate in the month of April.which is the age-old traditional shifting jhum cultivation. The traditional outfits and ornaments of Khelmas are very interesting. The women are wearing a many string of different beads and coins round the neck. Now a day, majority of young boys and girls of the villages have put on pants, shirts and traditional Mekhela. The old men’s dress is simple, generally they wear a dhuti.The Khelmas bear close resemblance to the Hrangkhols and the Biate, in language, customs and tradition. The main traditional Gods and deities of the Khelmas are Angera, Debi Maka saichkri Rajaram Mokolraja.The traditional social administration of Khelams knows as Chep Halam, which is headed by Kalim and Kabur.In Khelmas community, the young man has to serve his father-in-law3 for four years before allowing him to take home his wife. This system is called Maksa.The Khelmas also celebrate different festivals, which are connected with worship of different gods and goddesses during a year. Rabu-khat, Parsem, Inmathung, Rabuthum are such festivals. Rabuthum is the most important of all the ceremonies of Khelmas.Khelmas have a good number of folk songs for different occasions. The songs are generally slow.