Weaving into the Rich Tapestry of the Garo Tribe of Meghalaya

As the emerald valley of Meghalaya begins to enchant the traveller within you, and as you bask in the glorious mountain sun, bow down and thank for the beautiful diversity of India. Tradition and culture invigorate us with a sense of belonging to our land. As we move along the terrains of the hills, there is so much to discover and unveil, both in geography and in people. This blog post brings you closer to the indigenous tribe of the Garo people. Let’s dive into the vibrancy of the community and know more about this yarn of Indian fibre.

● History and Origin: As we embark towards an understanding of the origin of the Garo community, we shall trace its roots back into the 5th century in the hilly terrain of Tibet, from the Tibeto-Burman ethnic groups. Known as the A’chik, translating to the hill men coming from the Xinjiang Province, the A’chik Mande perpetuated a sense of community. For any tribe or a group to survive through ages, a sense of communal harmony comprises the core amongst the members. The Garos are believed to be one of the earliest tribes to have migrated towards Northeast India. Although the Garo people are also found in various pockets of West Bengal, Assam, Kohima, Tripura and Cooch Behar, the Garo Hills are supposed to be the the focal point of this community’s presence. The traces of the language of the Garo people are linked to China and Mongolia.

● The Garo Villages: The smaller Garo villages comprise 25-30 houses, whereas the larger ones could go up to 50-60. The houses in the villages were primarily made up of bamboo. One could observe really commendable craftsmanship of bamboo amongst the tribal people, unlikely to be found anywhere else. The Garo community follows a matrilineal form of society, where the head of the family is a woman. The inheritance of property rights are also taken by women. The children also take up their mother’s last name as a continuance of lineage. The livelihood of the people is dependent on agriculture.

● The Garo Festivals: Considering their inherent relationship with agriculture and farming, the primary festivals and celebrations of the Garo community are associated with the same. The Wangala festival, also known as the Hundred Drums Festival is one of the most prominent celebrations in the community. It is an homage to the bountiful harvest season, and is celebrated in the months of October-September. It is a very vibrant and jubilant affair of events. Rongchu Gala is another festival celebrated amongst the tribe members in a manner to honour the spirits of the ancestors. Various kinds of rituals are performed along with music and dances to appease the passed spirits and seek their blessings for the prosperity of the community. Another important aspect of celebrations is a particular alcohol spirit made out of rice, known as the Chubitchi. Prepared by continuously burning the rice in water, this is served to all members of the community.

● Cuisines of The Garo: The staples amongst the Garo tribe’s culinary offerings are rice and maize cooked with the locally grown vegetable and flavourful spices. ‘Chappa’ stands amongst the most beloved dishes in the Garo tribe. It is a delicacy prepared with fermented rice powder along with meat or vegetables. Chilli sauces are added to this mixture. The fermentation process allows for the tanginess to kick in, making it a rather unique dish. ‘Dakanda’ is another dish similar to pancake in texture and preparation using black sesame seeds, jaggery, flour and grated coconut.

● Nokpante Hut: Another interesting aspect of the Garo community is the Nokpante Hut. It is essentially a community place for all the unmarried youth of the village. The elders of the village gather here with the youth to share knowledge about dances, music, and other activities of the community.

● The disputes among the community are settled in a panchayat form of judicial system, though the concept of panchayat varies in the Garo community than the usual known. The Nokma (originally the head woman of the village, but now husband of the leading woman of the village) usually resolves the issues with the help and guidance of the other elders in the village. While the head might be the woman, the powers usually reside with the husband.

● The Garo people are highly devoted to the supernatural powers. In order to please their supreme deity, many sacrificial rituals are performed as well. They firmly believe that any misfortune that takes place within the community is a result of the anger of the spirits, and hence it is highly important to please them to lift the anger and curses.

● Small ailments and diseases are often treated with natural herbs. Considering their proximity with nature, the people of the tribe have a rather impeccable knowledge about the herbs around them and their uses.

Talking about any community or any tradition from India is similar to taking an entire trip altogether. You’re almost transported to the land through the depth of the culture that captivates one’s imagination in a way no novel could. If topics of tradition from different realms of Indian tapestry excite you and help you understand India a little better, then stay tuned. We have more such valued pieces of information coming right up. Alight India helps you discover India with a little extra touch of vibrancy smeared right into our souls