Faihriem people
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
Northeast India  India(Assam · Mizoram · Manipur · Meghalaya · Tripura) |
|
| Languages | |
| Saihriem · Hmar · Mizo · Hindi · English | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Hmar · Kuki · Mizo |
The Faihriem, or Saihriem, is a small regional clan located in the Indian states of Assam and Mizoram. It is considered a sub-tribe of the Hmar tribe. However, some believe that the Faihriem tribe is distinct from the Hmar.
The tribe is recognised by the Constitution of India as Sairhem under Any Kuki tribes in Assam [In accordance with The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Orders (Amendment) Act, 1976.], Meghalaya [In accordance with The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Orders (Amendment) Act, 1976 and The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment Act, 1987] and Mizoram [In accordance with The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Lists (Modification) Order, 1956 and as inserted by Act 81 of 1971]
A tradition from the Faihriem culture is a central aspect of the origin lore for sub-clan names. According to this tradition, one must throw a spear up in the air to define a location for new settlement. If the spear hits the ground pointing straight down, it is a good omen and the place should be selected for settlement.
One legend that explains the meaning of the clan names mentions this spear-tossing tradition. A woman, from a clan that settled around a thrown spear, asked her daughter to go and give meat to her uncles. This girl had many uncles so she asked her mother who should receive the meat. Her mother listed the uncles by their settlement and individual traits. The story states that the sub-clans descended from these uncles and became known by the names their niece had called them.
Another legend tells about the origins of the Khawlhring and Vangchhia clans. The legend says a man named Chunthang had a strange dream, which in the morning he related to his elder brother Saivate. Saivate rebuked him for having a dream, saying, "We, the Faihriems, never have dreams." Because of his dream, Chunthang was considered unclean and left home to dwell with another tribe, the Biate. He was known as a man of good character, a quality which earned him the hand of the Biate princess, Lazai. They were married, but none of their children were able to survive past infancy. One night, Chunthang was told in a dream that the next child they had could survive if born in another village. So, when the time for the delivery of this next child arrived, Lazai was taken to the village of the Thiek clan, where she delivered a healthy baby boy named "Khuolhring". This boy was the progenitor of the Khawlhring sub-clan. When Lazai became pregnant again, Chunthang had another dream telling him to keep the child beneath the "vang" tree near the house. This child was named "Vangsie" or Vanchhia, and was the progenitor of the Vangchhia sub-clan. The Ngente, Jongte, Bawlte, and Zawhte clans are said to be descended from Chunthang's younger brother, Ngendum.
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