Meghalaya Tribes

There are many races of people in the state, mainly the region is inhabited by tribes, the tribes from Mizoram, tribes from Nagaland and other tribes that have migrated from the neighboring states.

Taking Meghalaya tribes into account, they are broadly classified into the Hynniewtrep people and the Garos.


¤ The Hynniewtrep Tribe

Known to be the earliest ethnic group of settlers in the Indian sub-continent, the Hynniewtrep inhabit the districts of East Meghalaya. The Hynniewtrep are composed of the tribes of Khasi, Bhoi and War and they belong to the Proto Austroloid Monkhmer race. The three sub-tribes belong to the group Khasi but are known according to the place they belong to. The Khasis that inhabit along the southern tracts are known as War and those living in the Khasi Hills are known as War-Khasis and in the Jaintia hills as War-Pnars and War-Jaintias. The Khasis settling in the northern lowlands and foothills are known as Bhois. And lastly the Khasis who inhabit the eastern part of Meghalaya, ie, the Khasi Hills and the Jaintia Hills are known as Jaintias or Pnars. All of them claim to be the descendants of the "Ki Hynniew Trep" or commonly known as Khasi-Pnars or Khasis. They collectively have the same traditions and customs.

Dress
Though they have a traditional dress by the name 'Jymphong', they usually wear it during ceremonial celebrations. These male dresses are longish sleeveless coat without collar, fastened by thongs in front. During the occassions, they appear in Jymphong and Dhoti (long cotton cloth) with an ornamental waistband. Women dresses are elaborate with several pieces of clothes, giving the body a cylindrical look.


Food and Drinks
The Khasis staple food is rice. Fish and meat is also eaten in these areas. During every celebration, rice beer is a must.


Social Structure
The tribes in these places have a peculiar feature. The Khasis, the Jaintias and the Garos have a matrilineal society. The name and the property of descendant is traced through the mother. In the Khasi society, it is only the youngest daughter or 'Ka Khadduh' who is eligible to inherit the ancestral property.

Marriage
Marriage within a clan is prohibited and regarded as a taboo. During the marriage, they have a tradition to exchanged rings or betel-nut bags between the bride and the bridegroom to complete the union. In the Christian families, however, marriage is purely a civil contract.

Religion
The religion of the people is mostly Christians. Before Christianity came, they believed in 'The Creator' - U Blei Nongthaw and under 'Him', there were several deities of water, of mountains and also of other natural objects.

¤ The Garos Tribe

The Garos, belonging to the Bodo family of the Tibeto-Burman race, are said to have migrated from Tibet. The Garos prefer to call themselves as Achiks and the land they inhabit as the Achik-land.

The term Garo was taken from the name of a small group of the Garos residing in the central part of the southern hills. The vibrant and virile ethnic people who reside in the Garo Hills are known as the Garos. Besides the Garo hills, there are Garo settlements in the plains of Assam and Bangladesh.

Dress
The women wear a piece of cloth around their waists and puts on a blouse or vest. The men wear a turban in addition to the usual attire. A headdress with rows of beads stuck with feathers of hornbill is worn by men and women on all the festive occassions, bangles are also worn irrespective of sex.

Food and Drink
There is no inhibitions regarding food. Rice with onions, capsicum and salt thrice a day is their chief meal and practically all types of animal meat are eaten. Liquor formed a part of their life.

Social Structure
The lineage of the Garos are also matriarchal. When a new baby is born, the baby belongs to the mother's family, irrespective of sex.

Marriage
Marriage within the clan is considered a taboo and looked upon as punishable. Marriage is however, arranged with the formal sanction of the parents.

Religion
The Garos are mostly Christians.