Khiamniungan is one of the minor Naga
tribes, mostly found in the Tuensang district of Nagaland,
India and the adjoining areas of Burma.
The tribe's name is also spelled as
Khaiamnungan, Khiamnungan or Khiamungan. They were also called
Kelu-Kenyu ("slate-house dwellers") during the British Raj.
Khiamniungan Naga is one of the major tribes inhabiting in
Tuensang District of Nagaland. Khiamniungan is the language
spoken by the people in this tribe. The weavers from
Khiamniungans are famous for their fine and delicate designs.
Miu, which is on 2nd week of May, is the main festival
celebrated by the tribe.
History of Khiamniungan
Tribe
According to the local folk stories,
the Yimchungers and the Khiamniungans migrated to the
present-day Nagaland from Upper Burma as one group, in one wave.
They separated into two groups at the Moru village. Unlike
various other Naga tribes, the beginning 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.
Tribalsociety
The traditional Khiamniungan village
had eight important people:
1)
Sonlan or Shoalang (blacksmith)
2) Nyokpao or Nokpao (war leader)
3)
Meshwon or Kieo lomei (doctor)
4) Ain
(priestess and oracle)
5)
Meya or Ampao (priest)
6) Paothai or Paothieo (story teller)
7)
Petchi or Puthsee (peace maker, elder)
8) Ainloom (the keeper of the a
supposedly magical stone; the stone is said to warn of any
impending disaster such as a fire or a raid, by moving out of
its basket or by creating a sound through striking another
object)
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.
Culture of
Khiamniungan
Tribe
The traditional Khiamiungan
clothes consists 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.
Miu
festival
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.
Tsokum
festival
Tsokum is the week-long harvest festival of the tribe,
celebrated in October. The festival includes dancing,
singing, cleaning, repair of the roads, and outdoor
cooking and eating. In this festival the people appeal to
god's blessing for a abundant harvest.
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