Tamenglong district General information
The northeastern block of India comprises of seven states, popularly known as seven sisters. Manipur is one of the states, which has been covered with fame and is known in every corner of the globe for its pure and rich cultural heritage also for Sports. Out of the state's eight districts, Tamenglong is located along the western boundary of the state.
Tamenglong is entirely composed of hills, ranges and narrow valleys. The hilltops and valley sides are dotted with small hamlets, located at strategic points.
The land was believed to have been formed due to orogenic movement during cretaceous and Eocene period. The main rock formations are sandstone, shale, schist. Due to weak and fragile nature of rocks and high gradient of the hill slopes, landslide is a common phenomenon in the whole district in rainy season.
Tamenglong HQ can be reached through Roadways. From Imphal (State Capital) three buses depart at 6.00 am weekdays (except Sunday) to reach Tamenglong the same afternoon.
Festivals
Festivals and Dances of the Zeliangrong are closely linked up with religion, which is associated with their economic vocation and socio-cultural ethos. Festivals reflect different stages of agricultural activities, here talents, physical strength are expressed. Every month there is a festival.
The main festivals are
Gan-Ngai : This festival is celebrated in the month of December-January after harvest for 5 (five) days. Blowing horn herald the festival, fresh fire is made with the ancient friction method and distributed in every household. Villagers, irrespective of age dressed in their best attire, keep up the dance and songs, intercepting only by short intervals of repose and break dedicated to feasting.
Rih-ngai: (Chaga Ngai) : Celebrate during January-February is this War festival which is exclusively for male. No stranger is allowed to enter the village. Men abstain from sexual intercourse and foods cooked by women are not taken. An interesting feature is Raangh-Kapmei or shooting at an effigy of a warrior with pointed bamboo splits. It is believed that one who hit the effigy on:
Gudui-Ngai : Performed during the seed-sowing season in April. After completion of task like clearance of jungle for cultivation everyone will drink juice (dui) of ginger (Gu). Tug of war is performed between male and female as a symbolic representation of competition between God and Goddess for possessing the paddy. If the girls win it indicates a good harvest.
Banruhmei & Tarang: These are two feasts of merit performed by one who is bold, brave, philanthropist, generous and rich enough to feed the whole village. It is believed that if a man could perform both the feasts of merit during his lifetime, he is supposed to have accomplished his life's work.
During Banruhmei various songs and dances are performed observing strict forms. The entire villagers, irrespective of age, will participate the feast, which may last a few weeks. The wife of the host will perform a special dance with a rice beer cistern of gourd, pouring it out rhythmically.
Tarang (or Kaisumei) can be performed only by those who have performed Banruhmei, if he still can afford. Here the special house of merit called Tarang-kai is constructed.
Culture
Tamenglong is inhabited by majority Zeliangrong Naga tribe ( comprising of Rongmei,Liangmei, Zemei and Pumei) and Kukis, besides minority Hmars, Chirus and Khasis. Racially or physically and linguistically Zeliangrongs are Tibeto-Burman (Indo-Mongoloid) of Sino-Tibetan family of the Mongolian race. Based on history it is assumed that Mongoloid groups including Zeliangrong Nagas were inhabiting the upper course of the Yangtze and Howang Ho rivers in China in the prehistoric times.
The Zeliangrong belongs to patriarchal social system. Each clan enjoys equal status. Clan exogamy is strictly observed. Cross-cousin marriage is most preferred but parallel cross-cousin is seldom. Besides following many other normal customs of a Naga-tribe, they also have some strange and fearful customs.
Nasitheimei or Nathitheimei : Should a woman die in childbirth the child is not permitted to live but buried with the dead mother.
Mandu (Bone money) : Mandu is the bone price of wife. Patrilineal relatives of the wife demand this. On the death of a wife her father demands Mandu from the husband, or if he be dead, the late husband's nearest relative. Mandu ensures that every care will be taken both of wife and offspring.
Marriage system
Besides normal marriage like by engagement or by elopement there are also other kinds of marriage.
* Noumang-mei-Nou-kao (Marriage by Service): With the agreement of both parties the boy stay at the girl's parents' house and stay for three to four years and live as husband and wife then finally return home.
* Chamemei : Here a girl is given in marriage even against her consent to a family to whom the girls parent are in debt or some obligations.
* Naokakhaomei: In an accidental death of a man, the nearest next brother will look after the children and remarry the wife of his brother.
Tourist Place
Tamenglong, The Paradise Unexplored
Tamenglong district of Manipur is blessed with a topography of irregular undulation. It has in its small area most of the awesome features that nature mould to a hilly terrain. Turbulent waters, roaring waterfall, pitching dark caves, enchanting lakes of the wilderness, rocks chiseled to wondrous form and yet the thick blanket of dense tropical forest most part of which are still virgin.
Highlighted below are some of the popular places that have attracted a number of tourists round the year.
Along the river Barak there are seven waterfalls in series at close range. The picture is at the third step of the waterfall.
The famous Tharon cave is located at about 27 kms from the district HQ. The map of the entire cave is engraved and painted on a stone at the main entrance. Archeological excavation of the cave shows affinities with Hobinian culture of North Vietnam.
The legendary Zeilad lake at Makoi (Atengba) is associated with a number of pythons, fishes and water birds. There are six other lakes nearby Guiphop Zei, Nrou Zei, Nap-sam Zei etc.
The Buning (N-piulong) meadow is located on the western side of the picturesque Tamei town. A number of well-groomed uneven small mounts, numerous glittering brooks studded the stretch. Come June the meadow is coloured with enchanting groud orchids and various wild lilies. Cry of Hoolock gibbon howling of foxes melodious chirping of birds altogether form Buning a big family of the wildlife evoking wonder and admiration of many who have witnessed the meadow.