Nocte
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 111,679 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|
Tirap District, Arunachal Pradesh: 111,679 |
|
| Languages | |
| Nocte, Assamese, English | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity 44%, Hinduism 23%, Animism 17% | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Naga tribes |
The Nocte (literally, village people) are an ethnic group primarily living in Arunachal. They number about 111,679 (Census 2011), mainly found in the Patkai hills of Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Ethnically related to the Konyak Naga, their origins can be traced back to the Hukong Valley in Myanmar, where they migrated from between the 1670 and 1700.
They have chiefs who exert control over the village, and they are also consulted by the village elders and priests on all important socio-religious ceremonies.
The Nocte were followers of Theravada Buddhism and Animism, although they have adopted Hinduism since the 18th century, under the influence of Shri Shankardeva. This has brought them closer to the Hindu culture of much of the rest of India. The 1961 census reported some Buddhists among the Nocte.
The first chief or Ang of Namsang & Borduria, Lotha Khonbao was known for his spirituality. The chief was baptised as "Narottam", by Sri Ram the Gukhai of the Bare Ghar Satra, Vaishnavite Hindu.
A place was also named in his honour, Narottam Nagar, where now, the reputed institution, RK Mission is situated. A picture of the chief & his wife is also available in the British Archive Museum.
In the traditional Nocte religion they worshiped Jauban (supreme god) who was believed to have created human beings and started miseries, troubles and happiness. Other malevolent and benevolent deities are also worshipped as well. Offerings of food and water are given to the gods in order to appease them.
The Nocte also deeply follow the virtues of Barghariya Satra in addition to Jauban. A Mahantas (priest) conducts the religious ceremonies.
Of late, Baptist missionaries have converted about one-fifth to one-third of the Nocte to Christianity, principally those living in Khonsa. The rabidly anti-Christian Buddhist Channel in 2010 claimed there were no Christians anywhere in Arunachal Pradesh province in 1951, seeming to indicate that this conversion to Christianity largely happened in the latter half of the 20th century with continuation into the 21st century.
Loku, which literally means chasing out of the old season of the year, acts as the main festival of the Nocte. The festival, which lasts for three days, involves the slaughter of cattle, entertainment and the gathering of food on the first day.
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Wikipedia