Socio-cultural Characteristics of the Naga Tribes in Sivasagar District, Assam: An Ethnographic Study

Abstract

Among the various ethnic groups of Assam, the Nagas also find a very prominent place. Tracing anthropological history, it is seen that the Nagas belong to the China-Tibetan family covering a large part of the North Eastern region of India. In fact, years back some clans of the Nagas living in Nagaland came to Assam in search of home for good. As such, some descendants of the three significant Naga tribes namely Konyak, Ao and Phom have permanently settled in Sivasagar District of Assam. Since then the Konyak Nagas have been living in Hanhchara Naga Gaon, Gargaon and Bhadhara Gaon whereas all the remaining migrated Naga tribes – Konyak, Ao and Phom – have been living in Namsai, Ligiri Pukhuri and Hatipatty Monaiting adjacent to Gelakey. Interestingly, the Konyak Nagas living in Hanhchara, Gargaon and Bhadhara are the followers of the religious practice, Neo-Vaishnavism (Ek Saran Naam Dharma), initiated by the saint and reformer Srimanta Sankardeva. The Nagas living in Namsai, Ligiri Pukhuri and Monaiting also left their cultural traits of their forefathers and adopted Christianity. Globalization has brought forth a change in the living and cultural traits of the Nagas in Assam. Although the Nagas of Namsai, Ligiri Pukhuri and Monaiting, under the influence of Christianity, have lost their cultural nativity, the Nagas of Hanchara, Gargaon and Bhadhara, in contrast, are still sticking to their native cultures amidst huge challenges. With a field study, a humble attempt is made to present the true picture of the socio-cultural life of the Nagas of the district of Sivasagar.