Khiamniungan
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Languages | |
| Khiamniungan language | |
| Religion | |
| Approximately 99%Christianity and 1% Animism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Naga tribes |
Khiamniungan is one of the major Naga tribes, mainly found in the Tuensang district of Nagaland, India and the adjoining areas of Burma. They were also called Kelu-Kenyu ("slate-house dwellers") during the British Raj.
The origin of the Khiamniungans, like that of other Naga tribes, is uncertain. There are no written records of their history before the British Raj days, and the only source of information about their ancestors are oral traditions in form of folktales and myths.
According to a popular myth, Khiamniungan means "source of great waters" - the place from where the early ancestors of Khiamniungan are said to have emerged. This place is identified near Lengnyu-Tsuwao villages over looking from the present day Noklak and Pathso towns.
Today, the Khiamniungans occupy the easternmost part of India and northwestern part of Myanmar. In India, they are found in Tuensang district of Nagaland state. They are linked linguistically as well as culturally to the Tibeto-Burman.
During the British Raj, the Khiamniungans were referred to as "Kalyu Kanyu", particularly in the works of anthropologists such as Christoph von Fürer-Haimendorf. Unlike several other Naga tribes, the advent of Christianity had little impact on the Khiamniungan for a long time, due to their remote location. The first Khiamniungan to convert to Christianity was Khaming, in 1947. Thereafter, a number of Khiamniungans converted to Christianity. After the coming of the new education system, social system, modernization and Christianity, there have been drastic changes in their social life.
The traditional Khiamniungan village had eight important people:
By the early 1990s, only the Petchi, the Sonlan and the Ainloom remained relevant, others being remembered mainly as part of books and oral tradition.
The traditional Khiamiungan attires consist of bright red and bright deep blue colored dresses. The ornaments are made of cowries and conch shells.
The tribal musical instruments include drums made of gourds and bamboo flutes.
The Khiamniungan tribals, who traditionally practised jhum cultivation (slash and burn agriculture), celebrate the Miu festival at the time of sowing. They offer prayers for a good harvest.
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Wikipedia