The Hajong people are an ethnic group from
Northeast India
, native_name_lang = mni
, settlement_type =
, image_skyline =
, image_alt =
, image_caption =
, motto =
, image_map = Northeast india.png
, ...
and northern parts of
Bangladesh
Bangladesh (}, ), officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the eighth-most populous country in the world, with a population exceeding 165 million people in an area of . Bangladesh is among the mos ...
.
The majority of the Hajongs are settled in India and are predominantly rice-farmers. They are said to have brought wet-field cultivation to
Garo Hills
The Garo Hills (Pron: ˈgɑ:rəʊ) are part of the Garo-Khasi range in Meghalaya, India. They are inhabited by the Garo people. It is one of the wettest places in the world. The range is part of the Meghalaya subtropical forests ecoregion.
De ...
, where the
Garo people
The Garo is a Tibeto-Burman ethnic tribal group from the Indian subcontinent, living mostly in the Indian states of Meghalaya, Assam, Tripura, and Nagaland, and in neighbouring areas of Bangladesh, including Madhupur, Mymensingh, Haluaghat, ...
used
slash and burn
Slash-and-burn agriculture is a farming method that involves the cutting and burning of plants in a forest or woodland to create a field called a swidden. The method begins by cutting down the trees and woody plants in an area. The downed veget ...
method of agriculture.
[Ahmad, S., A. Kim, S. Kim, and M. Sangma. (2005). ''The Hajong of Bangladesh: A sociolinguistic survey.'' http://www.sil.org/resources/publications/entry/42943.] Hajong have the status of a Scheduled Tribe in India and they are the fourth largest tribal ethnicity in the Indian state of
Meghalaya
Meghalaya (, or , meaning "abode of clouds"; from Sanskrit , "cloud" + , "abode") is a state in northeastern India. Meghalaya was formed on 21 January 1972 by carving out two districts from the state of Assam: (a) the United Khasi Hills and J ...
.
Origin
![Hajong Place of Worship](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fe/Hajong_Place_of_Worship.jpeg)
The Hajongs belong to the
Bodo-Kachari group of tribes, whose ancestors migrated from
Tibet
Tibet (; ''Böd''; ) is a region in East Asia, covering much of the Tibetan Plateau and spanning about . It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people. Also resident on the plateau are some other ethnic groups such as Monpa, Taman ...
to the
Brahmaputra Valley
The Brahmaputra Valley is a region situated between hill ranges of the eastern and northeastern Himalayan range in Eastern India.
The valley consists of the Western Brahmaputra Valley covering the regions of Goalpara and Kamrup; the Central ...
in the ancient past, from where they spread in multiple directions. The Hajongs have no recorded history and whatever historical references available are in the form of legends, folktales and traditional beliefs. The Hajongs believe that their ancestral land was in
Hajo
Hajo is a historic town set in the hills northwest of Guwahati, Assam, India. It is a meeting point of Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims due to the various pilgrimage sites on the different hills of Hajo. To the Hindus, the Manikut Parbat of Hajo ...
area of present-day
Nalbari district of Assam. The meaning of 'Hajong' can thus be comprehended as 'descendants of Hajo'. It is believed that twelve thousand Hajongs fled Hajo and had settled in the northern foothills of
Garo Hills
The Garo Hills (Pron: ˈgɑ:rəʊ) are part of the Garo-Khasi range in Meghalaya, India. They are inhabited by the Garo people. It is one of the wettest places in the world. The range is part of the Meghalaya subtropical forests ecoregion.
De ...
; from there, they gradually extended their settlement in the southeastern direction, along the foothills of Garo Hills and
Khasi-Jaintia Hills. This traditional belief about their migration is corroborated in many of the folktales of the Hajongs. According to a legend prevalent among the Hajongs, they are
Suryawanshi (
Hajong:Surjobungsi) or the descendants of
Surjodyao or Bila (the
Sun god) and are
Kshatriyas
Kshatriya ( hi, क्षत्रिय) (from Sanskrit ''kṣatra'', "rule, authority") is one of the four varna (social orders) of Hindu society, associated with warrior aristocracy. The Sanskrit term ''kṣatriyaḥ'' is used in the c ...
. It is reported that, in 1939, the Hajongs organised a Kshatriya Sanmelan for the welfare of the community and for enforcing observation of their traditions.
Geographical distribution
It is believed that the original heartland of the Hajongs in Garo hills was in the area lying mostly along with the Northeast and Southwest foothills of Garo Hills and part of the southern foothills of Khasi and Jaintia Hills. This wide and plain switch of land in the foothills, half encircling these two hills falls partly in present-day Goalpara district of Assam, partly in Garo Hills district of Meghalaya and partly in Mymensingh and Syhlet districts of Bangladesh. According to folklore, the Hajong habitation was said to have started from a small Hajong village called Hwârkuna Situated in the northeastern corner of the foothills of Garo Hills and ended at anither small Hajong village called Jumakuna situated in the southeastern corner of the foothills of Jaintia Hills. The Hajong habitation was said to have extended only this far and no further beyond these two villages in either direction. Today, the Hajongs are spread out across
northeast India
, native_name_lang = mni
, settlement_type =
, image_skyline =
, image_alt =
, image_caption =
, motto =
, image_map = Northeast india.png
, ...
and
Bangladesh
Bangladesh (}, ), officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the eighth-most populous country in the world, with a population exceeding 165 million people in an area of . Bangladesh is among the mos ...
with the majority of the population on the India side of the border. In India, Hajongs are found in both the Garo and Khasi Hills of Meghalaya, largely along the
South-West Garo Hills District of Meghalaya and Bangladesh border. They also live in the Dhubri and Goalpara districts of lower Assam, Dhemaji and other districts of upper Assam into Arunachal Pradesh.
[Kinny, E. and I. Zeliang. (2005). ''A Sociolinguistic survey among the Hajong of India.'' Unpublished manuscript.] In Bangladesh, Hajongs are found in the northern Dhaka division, although there are unconfirmed reports of some Hajong living in
Chittagong division. The narrow strip of borderland that stretches from
Sherpur district
Sherpur district ( bn, শেরপুর জেলা, ''Sherpur Jela'' also ''Sherpur Zila'') is a district in Northern Bangladesh. It is a part of Mymensingh Division. Sherpur district was a sub-division of Jamalpur District before 1984. It was ...
in the west as far
Sunamganj district
Sunamganj ( bn, সুনামগঞ্জ) is a district located in north-eastern Bangladesh within the Sylhet Division.
History
In the ancient period, Sunamganj was part of the Laur Kingdom. After the conquest of Sylhet (Kingdom of Gauiurh) ...
in the east can be considered the southern outpost of the greater Hajong community.
Language
Hajong is classified as an
Indo-Aryan language
The Indo-Aryan languages (or sometimes Indic languages) are a branch of the Indo-Iranian languages in the Indo-European language family. As of the early 21st century, they have more than 800 million speakers, primarily concentrated in India, Pa ...
. It has some degree of similarity with Assamese and Bengali, the two IA languages spoken in the region. At the same time, certain grammatical similarities such as case marking can be found between Hajong and some
Tibeto-Burman languages
The Tibeto-Burman languages are the non- Sinitic members of the Sino-Tibetan language family, over 400 of which are spoken throughout the Southeast Asian Massif ("Zomia") as well as parts of East Asia and South Asia. Around 60 million people sp ...
spoken in the same geographic location. The Hajong language was originally a
Tibeto-Burman language
The Tibeto-Burman languages are the non-Sinitic members of the Sino-Tibetan language family, over 400 of which are spoken throughout the Southeast Asian Massif ("Zomia") as well as parts of East Asia and South Asia. Around 60 million people spe ...
, but is now considered an
Indo-Aryan language
The Indo-Aryan languages (or sometimes Indic languages) are a branch of the Indo-Iranian languages in the Indo-European language family. As of the early 21st century, they have more than 800 million speakers, primarily concentrated in India, Pa ...
with
Tibeto-Burman
The Tibeto-Burman languages are the non- Sinitic members of the Sino-Tibetan language family, over 400 of which are spoken throughout the Southeast Asian Massif ("Zomia") as well as parts of East Asia and South Asia. Around 60 million people spea ...
roots. It is spoken by more than 175,000 ethnic Hajongs. It is written in the
Eastern Nagari script
Eastern may refer to:
Transportation
*China Eastern Airlines, a current Chinese airline based in Shanghai
*Eastern Air, former name of Zambia Skyways
*Eastern Air Lines, a defunct American airline that operated from 1926 to 1991
*Eastern Air Li ...
. It has a lot of
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...
loanword
A loanword (also loan word or loan-word) is a word at least partly assimilated from one language (the donor language) into another language. This is in contrast to cognates, which are words in two or more languages that are similar because t ...
s. Hajong phonology has an extra vowel /ɯ/ which is not present in other Indo-Aryan languages, but is typical for the Tibeto-Burman family. The phonology of Hajong has 23 consonant phonemes, 8 vowel phonemes, and 2 approximants which have some characteristics of consonants namely /w/ and /j/ which act as diphthongs, it includes vowel harmony and the devoicing of final consonants. According to one of the several hypotheses, the Hajong language has Sino-Tibetan origins that was
relexified by
Bangali; and some hints of its origin may be shown through the
case markers in Hajong.
Clothing
![Traditional Hajong Ornaments2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c7/Traditional_Hajong_Ornaments2.png)
Hajongs are known for their woven dresses. Hajongs are known for their weaving and handicrafts; their skilled activities are still preserved and passed on through the ages from generation to generation, though there might be minuscule changes in lifestyle with the influence of western way of life. Weaving constitutes an important integral household work for the women and most of the time one can see hajong women weaving and wearing their traditional attire. This is one of the important features observed within this ethnic group and it reveals their affection for their traditional values. Hajong women feel prideful that they can weave their own clothes and also that of her children and members of the family. For maidens, the knowledge of weaving is considered a prime requisite prior to marriage, but because to Western influences this tradition is not strictly adhered to by unmarried women. Every household has a traditional loom called ''bana''; there are two kinds of traditional looms, ''salbana'' and ''sipnibana''. The sipnibana is operated solely with hands and does not require the use of feet.
Women of this tribe chiefly wear ''pathin'',
[Hajong, B. (2002). ''The Hajongs and their struggle.'' Assam, Janata Press.] a wrap-around skirt that covered the upper and lower part of the body from the bust till the
calf of the leg. Women in the upper class wore a long pathin which falls down to the floor while women in the lower class wore a shorter pathin which length reaches to the ankle. The pathin is a horizontally striped, colourful, rectangular piece of cloth with alternate layers of different colours between red stripes and thick horizontal borders. The pathin, also called pate or pâthni, consists of two main sets of stripes: the kan and the gao. If the pathin is observed with the stripes parallel to the horizon, the kan appears to be on the top and bottom ends of the pathin, while the gao is the larger central portion of the pathin. Red is the main colour used in the ''rangapathin'', which is worn by young women; while middle aged women tend to wear pathins with lesser stripes in shades to green. Women, while working on the fields use the ''kompes'' as a ''banong'' or belt. The compes is a brocaded scarf mostly used by men, but often women use it to tie their waists. Menfolk wear a woven piece of cloth called ''ningti'' or ''bhijâ kapur'', it is worn in the fashion of a
dhoti
The dhoti, also known as veshti, vetti, dhuti, mardani, chaadra, dhotar, jaiñboh, panchey, is a type of sarong, tied in a manner that outwardly resembles "loose trousers". It is a lower garment forming part of the ethnic costume for men in the ...
. During winters, both men and women cover their bodies with a traditional brocaded
shawl
A shawl (from fa, شال ''shāl'',) is a simple item of clothing from Kashmir, loosely worn over the shoulders, upper body and arms, and sometimes also over the head. It is usually a rectangular or square piece of cloth, which is often folde ...
called
''Argon'' and men keep their necks warm with a kompes. Other kind of clothes used by the Hajongs are gamsa similar to the Assamese
gamosa and pasra, an embroidered light shawl. ''Buksuli'' is the traditional shirt used by men.
Traditional ornaments
File:Traditional Ornaments of Hajong Tribe.jpg, Traditional Ornaments of the Hajongs.
File:Hajong Earrings Kankurya.jpg, Kankurya
File:Hārsohra or Chondrohaar.png, Puspohar or Chondrohar
Hajong women, both young and old, prefer to adorn themselves with traditional ornaments. Majority of the Hajong ornaments are made of
silver
Silver is a chemical element with the symbol Ag (from the Latin ', derived from the Proto-Indo-European ''h₂erǵ'': "shiny" or "white") and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it exhibits the highest electrical ...
; while the use of
gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au (from la, aurum) and atomic number 79. This makes it one of the higher atomic number elements that occur naturally. It is a bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile me ...
,
ivory
Ivory is a hard, white material from the tusks (traditionally from elephants) and teeth of animals, that consists mainly of dentine, one of the physical structures of teeth and tusks. The chemical structure of the teeth and tusks of mammals i ...
,
coral
Corals are marine invertebrates within the class Anthozoa of the phylum Cnidaria. They typically form compact colonies of many identical individual polyps. Coral species include the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans and ...
and
conch shells have been observed too. Traditionally, all of the extravagant ornaments belong to the women of this tribe; men were to only wear their wedding rings called ''manik angthi'' and a gold chain. Although men can be seen wearing a red thread on their waist called ''bâstâ'' or ''bâitâ'',
''lugun'' on their left shoulder, and rosaries made of
sandalwood
Sandalwood is a class of woods from trees in the genus ''Santalum''. The woods are heavy, yellow, and fine-grained, and, unlike many other aromatic woods, they retain their fragrance for decades. Sandalwood oil is extracted from the woods for us ...
,
golden apple
The golden apple is an element that appears in various national and ethnic folk legends or fairy tales. Recurring themes depict a hero (for example Hercules or Făt-Frumos) retrieving the golden apples hidden or stolen by a monstrous antagonist. ...
and the
holy basil. Married women wear conch shell bangles called ''haka'' and the wedding ring, ''manik angthi''. Some of the ornaments used by women are listed below:
*Galahicha : A
Torc
A torc, also spelled torq or torque, is a large rigid or stiff neck ring in metal, made either as a single piece or from strands twisted together. The great majority are open at the front, although some had hook and ring closures and a few had ...
.
*Mugâ mala : A gold necklace with alternate red and black beads.
*Gujurâti or Harsura : A chain with floral motifs, made of either gold or silver.
*Chondrohar or Sunchisura : This traditional necklace is made of silver, weighing 35 to 50 grams, and has three to five rows of chains with floral motifs.
*Sikâ mala : A necklace made of coins.
*Katbaju : A pair of armlets made of silver, weighing around 15 to 25 grams.
*Nol Kharu : A pair of thick bangles, both gold and silver is used in the preparation of this category of bangles, weighing around 25 to 35 grams.
*Buila : A pair of silver bangles
*Bak kharu : Pair of open rings worn on the ankles made of silver, weighing around 35 to 50 grams.
*Bak Gunjuri : This is another pair of rings worn on the anklets made of heavy silver bars with small bells along the length, curved into a ring. It is popular for the tinkling sound the bells make.
*Bonko : A pair of silver anklets with a zigzag pattern.
*Koromphul : Pair of ear rings worn at the earlobes, with conical protrusions on both sides.
*Kankurya : A pair of curved earrings.
*Kanpasa : A pair of flat earrings with a hook.
*Not : A nose ring made of gold, worn on the left side by married women.
*Nolok : Nose rings worn on the
septum, this category includes ''titlipata'', ''kumrâbisi'', ''jibâli'', etc.
Social divisions
Obsolete clans
Originally the Hajongs were divided into six clans.
[Queenbala Marak, Sarit K. Chaudhuri. The Cultural Heritage of Meghalaya. Chapter 9 ''Socio-Cultural Aspects of the Hajongs of Meghalaya'', Social Structure of the Hajongs.] The present generation is hardly aware that this clan system had ever existed in the past. The origin of these clans are traced back to the twelve thousand Hajongs who had crossed the Brahmaputra river and entered Garo Hills from Hajo. The descendants of these twelve thousand people were divided into six groups under the leadership of six heads: ''Harang'', ''Bhajalu'', ''Manik'', ''Teper'', ''Satodol'', and ''Manji''. These six clans were named after these tribal heads.
*Harangpâryâ
*Bhajalupâryâ
*Manikpâryâ
*Teperpâryâ
*Satodolpâryâ
*Manjipâryâ
Matrilineal clans: ''Nikni''
The Hajong clans werer formally organised on the basis of matrilineal exogamy. They were divided into several matrilineal clans called ''nikni''.
[Bareh, Hamlet. (2001). ''Encyclopaedia of North-East India: Meghalaya''. Mittal Publications. p. 216.] Although, the hajongs were an endogamous tribe, clan exogamy was practiced where one wasn't allowed to be wed to somebone belonging to the same ''nikni''. It has been documented that anybody who could not tell his ''nikni'' was mocked and was said to have belonged to the ''Ghughu nikni'', the word ''ghugu'' in Hajong means a
dove
Columbidae () is a bird family consisting of doves and pigeons. It is the only family in the order Columbiformes. These are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills that in some species feature fleshy ceres. They primarily ...
, a kind of a wild pigeon. Doves breed only two offsprings at a time. These two squabs grow up to mate with each other despite being siblings. Similarly, a Hajong who could not tell his own ''nikni'' was assailed wittingly to be a member of the dove-clan hinting indirectly that he had married his own sister. The inner intention or significance of this was to direct or make each Hajong to be particularly familiar with his own clan, so that he could avoid marrying a girl belonging to his own ''nikni'' due to his ignorance. Marriage within one's own nikni was strictly prohibited on the grounds that genealogically a girl from the same ''nikni'' was considered his own sister.
[Queenbala Marak, Sarit K. Chaudhuri. The Cultural Heritage of Meghalaya. Chapter 9 ''Socio-Cultural Aspects of the Hajongs of Meghalaya'', Social Structure of the Hajongs.]
The exact number of ''nikni'' is not known, some have listed seventeen; while others have said that only thirteen of the ''nikni''s could be found.
The ''Puwachungwâ nikni'' was regarded as the leading clan and members of this clan would enjoy respectable positions in society. It is noted that members of some of these ''nikni''s had developed a feeling of collateral relation with the plants, fruits, insects, etc., that their clans had been named after.
[Queenbala Marak, Sarit K. Chaudhuri. The Cultural Heritage of Meghalaya. Chapter 9 ''Socio-Cultural Aspects of the Hajongs of Meghalaya'', Social Structure of the Hajongs.]
Patrilineal kinship: ''Daidi''
The ''daidi'' or ''daigi'' system possibly began during the time when they were following the matrilineal system. ''Daidi'' actually means kinship or descent through the male or father's line. A person having a distant relation with any member of the kinship of his father's line is called a ''daidi bhagi'' or ''daidi gusti''. A ''daidi bhagi'' or a ''daidi gusti'' was liable to observe state of pollution called ''swâ'' for three days when the news of the death of any of his ''daidi gusti'' was heard and he was to be
purified by performing certain religious rites. Unlike the ''nikni'' system, the ''daidi'' system had no division and it had not become a cause for the development of any kind of clan, class or group in the society. It was to see, similar to the ''nikni'' system, that there should be no ''daidi'' relationship between the proposed bride and the groom. If it was found that both of them or their families where ''daidi bhagi'' or ''daidi gusti'' to each other, the proposal was to be immediately dropped.
[Queenbala Marak, Sarit K. Chaudhuri. The Cultural Heritage of Meghalaya. Chapter 9 ''Socio-Cultural Aspects of the Hajongs of Meghalaya'', Social Structure of the Hajongs.]
Geographical divisions: ''Jwar''
The Hajongs are divided into five geographical clans called ''jwar''. Hajongs belonging to each ''jwar'' speak a different dialect of
Hajong called ''rao''. These clans are named after the archaic names of the areas in the foothills and the plains of Garo Hills, which were historically inhabited by Hajong people. Among these clans, the ''Barohajari'' clan is named after the area where the twelve thousand Hajongs from Hajo had first settled in Garo Hills. The five ''jwar''s are listed below:
* Doskinâ
* Korebari
* Susung'yâ
* Barohajari
* Mespâryâ
Religious sects
There are two documented sections among the Hajongs, ''Khatal'' and ''Hajong''. The main difference between these two sections is that the ''Khatal''s prohibit the use and preparation of
rice beer
Rice wine is an alcoholic beverage fermented and distilled from rice, traditionally consumed in East Asia, Southeast Asia and South Asia. Rice wine is made by the fermentation of rice starch that has been converted to sugars. Microbes are the ...
. It is observed that among these two sections, the degree of Hinduisation varies. There are differences even among the ''Khatal''s themselves.
[Bareh, Hamlet. (2001). ''Encyclopaedia of North-East India: Meghalaya''. Mittal Publications. p. 215.] The ''Khatal''s are divided into ''Bastom'' and ''Khutri''. The hereditary ''Udhikâri'' or the priest class, the Hajong equivalent of the Hindu
Brahmin
Brahmin (; sa, ब्राह्मण, brāhmaṇa) is a varna as well as a caste within Hindu society. The Brahmins are designated as the priestly class as they serve as priests (purohit, pandit, or pujari) and religious teachers (gur ...
, belong to the ''Bastom'' section while the ''Khutri'' class is the Hajong counterpart of the
Kshatriya
Kshatriya ( hi, क्षत्रिय) (from Sanskrit ''kṣatra'', "rule, authority") is one of the four varna (social orders) of Hindu society, associated with warrior aristocracy. The Sanskrit term ''kṣatriyaḥ'' is used in the con ...
class. The Hajong section of the society observes both traditional and Hindu customs; this section does not have any special name as they are believed to practice the traditional religion and have not been greatly influenced by mainstream Hinduism. The ''nikni'' system is preserved by this section of the society, whereas the ''Khutri'' section follows the Hindu ''
Gotra'' system. The social outcasts belong to the ''Dirkâ'' class. The Hajongs living in close proximity with larger Hindu populations have absorbed more elements of
Hinduism
Hinduism () is an Indian religion or '' dharma'', a religious and universal order or way of life by which followers abide. As a religion, it is the world's third-largest, with over 1.2–1.35 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global p ...
than those who inhabit the interior areas where the influence of the
Hindu cast system is less.
Religion
![Tradtional Hajong granary called Chang Ghor](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c3/Tradtional_Hajong_granary_called_Chang_Ghor.jpg)
Hajongs are now thoroughly Hinduised. All Hindu Customs are adhered to right from the time of birth. Hindu beliefs have been interwined with their original culture and it is impossible to separatet them.
The present religious customs practiced by the Hajongs can be considered an amalgation of their folk religion and Hinduism, as it was not seen to conflict with the rites of their traditional
animistic
Animism (from Latin: ' meaning ' breath, spirit, life') is the belief that objects, places, and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence. Potentially, animism perceives all things—animals, plants, rocks, rivers, weather systems, ...
religion, giving birth to a new variety of
syncretic
Syncretism () is the practice of combining different beliefs and various schools of thought. Syncretism involves the merging or assimilation of several originally discrete traditions, especially in the theology and mythology of religion, thu ...
Hinduism. No information is available as to how the Hajongs came under the influence of Hinduism in the long past as no written records exist to this effect. Only an attempt can be made with reference to their religious traditions, customs, conventions, etc., some of which are still being followed by Hajongs and also in the context of the religious atmosphere found to have prevailed in those days in the place where their forefathers were lioving and from where they are said to have migrated.
Marriage
Hajongs are
endogamous
Endogamy is the practice of marrying within a specific social group, religious denomination, caste, or ethnic group, rejecting those from others as unsuitable for marriage or other close personal relationships.
Endogamy is common in many cultu ...
people. Marriage with a person outside of their tribe is strictly forbidden, cases of such marriages are rare. Monogamy is the prevalent form of marriage; polygyny is not prohibited, but such marriages are rare. Negotiated alliance is the usual form of marriage.
In Hajong society
matriarchy
Matriarchy is a social system in which women hold the primary power positions in roles of authority. In a broader sense it can also extend to moral authority, social privilege and control of property.
While those definitions apply in general ...
declined with the influence of
Hinduism
Hinduism () is an Indian religion or '' dharma'', a religious and universal order or way of life by which followers abide. As a religion, it is the world's third-largest, with over 1.2–1.35 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global p ...
, leading towards the growing dominance of
patriarchy in Hajong society. Within Hajong culture, romantic love and widow remarriage was allowed. When intimacy develops between a boy and a girl without the knowledge of their parents, they are married to each other, provided that they do not belong to close maternal and paternal kinship. Exorbitant dowry system was absent in the Hajong society. The Hajongs would give a tolerable
bride price
Bride price, bride-dowry ( Mahr in Islam), bride-wealth, or bride token, is money, property, or other form of wealth paid by a groom or his family to the woman or the family of the woman he will be married to or is just about to marry. Bride dow ...
called ''pon'' or ''khalti''.
Culture
![Dancing Hajong women](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/59/Dancing_Hajong_women.jpg)
The Hajongs have a very rich culture. Hajong culture has greatly influenced and has had a tremendous impact on the language, clothing, and culture of other tribes like the Koches of Meghalaya, Banais and Dalus. Hajong women can be easily identified by their brightly striped red dress called ''Pathin''. Traditionally, and in many present-day villages, women are accomplished weavers who weave their own dresses. The Hajongs make it compulsory for every woman to know the art of weaving, which is regarded as a qualification for a woman for marriage. The Hajongs are a group of
agrarian people, most of their cultural practices, folklore and traditions are related to their agricultural practices. Hajongs are skilled in
woodwork
Woodworking is the skill of making items from wood, and includes cabinet making (cabinetry and furniture), wood carving, joinery, carpentry, and woodturning.
History
Along with stone, clay and animal parts, wood was one of the first mater ...
and
basketry, they make all of their farming tools and household items themselves. In addition to the implements needed for rice farming, Hajong households have many bamboo fishing implements.
House pattern
In a Hajong village, except for the house of an ''Udhikâri'', all other houses are almost similar in pattern with different sizes. The scenario having an earthen plinth and two thatched roof on both sides is common in every Hajong village. Bamboos and timbers are used occasionally. Floors are earthen and walls are made of split bamboo plastered with cow dung. ''Mak Mas'' (January- February) and ''Phalgun Mas'' (February- March) are the two most favourable months for constructing a new house. During this period, they are free from agricultural works. Traditional Hajong houses consist of separate buildings centered on a courtyard. The Hajongs customarily construct four or five houses on the four sides protecting the middle portion for courtyard. The courtyard is used as a space for religious rites. The kitchen is built separately from the main dwellinhg. There is a common courtyard in every household which is used for threshing grains after harvest. A typical Hajong household consists of the buildings listed below:
:*Bhat ghor: also called ''mâijâ ghor'', is the main dwelling, dining hall and also a bedroom
:*Akhli ghor: kitchen
:*Kasri ghor: dormitory with provision for guests
:*Khupra ghor: also called ''jura ghor'', bedroom for a married son or daughter
:*Chang ghor: granary
:*Dhiki ghor: husking house
:*Guli ghor: cattle shed
:*Dyao ghor: a shrine for the household deities
Food habits
The staple food is rice eaten with lentils and vegetables. For special occasions, rice is ground into fine powder and used to make steamed or fried rice cakes called ''pithâ''. Tortoise has traditionally been the favourite meat. Some of the traditional dishes are:
:*Dingpura : a type of sweet rice cooked in a special type of Bamboo
:*Libahak : dishes made with ground rice
:*Bukni Bhat : fermented rice
:*Bisi Bhat : a type of steamed sticky and sweet rice
:*Bhâtuwahak : dishes with rice flour and fermented fish
:*Putâmas : small fishes steamed in banana leaves
:*Chunsâhak : a type of cooked vegetable for special guest
:*Tupla Bhat : rice cooked in banana leaves
:*Kharpani : vegetable boiled with dried fish and soda
:*Chungâhak : dishes cooked in bamboo
Art
![WP 20150129 12 13 39 Pro](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/WP_20150129_12_13_39_Pro.jpg)
Hajong Art includes ''Birapat-chitâ'' which are painted on a wall of the ''Airo Ghor'' by ''airo''s on the during wedding ceremonies. In ''Birapat-chita'' also called ''Chan Bila Akawa'' the Sun, Moon, Stars, birds, boats and
palanquins
The litter is a class of wheelless vehicles, a type of human-powered transport, for the transport of people. Smaller litters may take the form of open chairs or beds carried by two or more carriers, some being enclosed for protection from the ...
are painted with powdered rice (''pithli''),
vermilion
Vermilion (sometimes vermillion) is a color, color family, and pigment most often made, since antiquity until the 19th century, from the powdered mineral cinnabar (a form of mercury sulfide, which is toxic) and its corresponding color. It i ...
and
kohl. Other works of art is done in the preparation of ''Merr'' for ''Maroi Pujâ''. In Merr various Gods and Goddesses and other auspicious objects are painted, intended for the worship of the serpent goddess
Kani Diyao. Another popular folk art among the hajongs is paper cutting. Paper cuttings with elaborate designs are hung on the doors during weddings and other festive occasions. Ceremonial
banana trees are often decorated with intricate paper cuttings.
Music
Traditional music includes ''gitâlu gahen'', ''gupni gahen'' and several songs related to agriculture and religious rites. Some of the traditional instruments are listed below:
:* Dhuluk : a broad drum with membranes at each end played from two ends.
:* Basi : a
flute.
:* Khul : a pair of small cymbals made of brass.
:* Dutra : a stringed instrument.
:* Dhapa kurtal : a pair of large
cymbals.
:* Hurindo : a
fiddle.
:* Hamuktal : an instrument made with
apple snail
Ampullariidae, commonly known as the apple snails, is a family of large freshwater snails, aquatic gastropod mollusks with a gill and an operculum. These snails simultaneously have a gill and a lung as functional respiratory structures, wh ...
shells.
:* Gugna : a
lamellophone instrument, consisting of a flexible
bamboo
Bamboos are a diverse group of evergreen perennial flowering plants making up the subfamily Bambusoideae of the grass family Poaceae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family. The origin of the word "bamboo" is uncertain, ...
tongue attached to a frame.
Festivals
''
Pusnâ'' is one of the most important festivals celebrated by the Hajongs marking the end of winter and the month of ''Pus''; It is the celebration of
Makar Sankranti, with feasts lasting for a week. Hajong people celebrate Hindu festivals like Durga Puja and Kamakhya Puja. They also celebrate a few traditional festivals. Traditional rituals are performed by a ''Dyushi'' or a ''Nungtang'', a Hajong shaman. Bastu pujâ, being one of the traditional festivals, does not involve idol worship and is celebrated in an area outside the village premises, called ''Bastu hali'' or ''Bastu than''. In ''Bastu pujâ'' tortoises and pigeons are sacrificed for ''Bastu dyao''. Another festival is called ''chormaga'' in Mymensingh and ''chorkhila'' in India. Chorkhila is celebrated during the month of October in South-West Garo Hills Districts of Meghalaya. During this festival, group of young people go around each house in the village, or from village to village, playing music and singing folsongs, sometimes stories from the
Ramayana
The ''Rāmāyana'' (; sa, रामायणम्, ) is a Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epic composed over a period of nearly a millennium, with scholars' estimates for the earliest stage of the text ranging from the 8th ...
. The parties receive some rice or money in return for their performance. Since every person, both young and old, comes out to watch the play, this is considered a chance to check out prospective brides and grooms. The Hajongs also celebrate their pre-monsoon harvest festival known as 'Biswâ'. Kani pujâ, Kâtkâ pujâ, are also performed on the last day of the month of ''Srabon'' and ''Kati''. The day of
Sharad Purnima
Sharad Purnima (also known as Kumara Purnima, Kojagari Purnima, Navanna Purnima, Kojagrat Purnima or Kaumudi Purnima) is a religious festival celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu lunar month of Ashvin (September to October), marking t ...
is known as ''Kujâi Ghor'' among the Hajongs.
[Hajong, B. (2002). ''The Hajongs and their struggle.'' Assam, Janata Press. p. 41.]
Notable People
*
Animes Roy, Singer of
Nasek Nasek song(
Coke Studio Bangla season 1)
Notes
References
Bibliography
*
*
* Hajong, B. 2002, ''The Hajongs and their Struggle''
{{authority control
Hajong culture
Ethnic groups in South Asia
Ethnic groups in India
Ethnic groups in Northeast India
Scheduled Tribes of Meghalaya
Tribes of Meghalaya
Tribes of Assam
Sino-Tibetan-speaking people
Bodo-Kachari
Hindu ethnic groups
Scheduled Tribes of Assam