Tribes and Their Settlements: Guided By-Submitted by

TRIBES AND THEIR
SETTLEMENTS
GUIDED BY- SUBMITTED BY-

SWARNA JUNGHARE GROUP 5
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CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION
2. AIM AND OBJECTIVE
3. SCOPE AND LIMITATION
4. METHODOLOGY
5. INTRODUCTION OF NORTH-EASTERN STATES
6. ARUNACHAL PRADESH
6.1. INTRODUCTION
6.2. TYPE OF TRIBES
6.3. NYISHI
6.3.1. INTRODUCTION
6.3.2. LANGUAGE
6.3.3. CLOTHING
6.3.4. OCCUPATION
6.3.5. CULTURE AND RELIGION
6.3.6. HOUSING AND SETTLEMENT
6.4. ADI
6.4.1. INTRODUCTION
6.4.2. LANGUAGE
6.4.3. CLOTHING
6.4.4. OCCUPATION
6.5. GOLA
6.5.1. INTRODUCTION
6.5.2. LANGUAGE
6.5.3. CLOTHING
6.5.4. OCCUPATION
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6.6. MISHMI
6.6.1. INTRDUCTION
6.6.2. LANGUAGE
6.6.3. CLOTHING
6.6.4. OCCUPATION
7. ASSAM
7.1. INTRODUCTION
7.2. TYPE OF TRIBES
7.3. BODO
7.3.1. INTRODUCTION
7.3.2. LANGUAGE
7.3.3. CLOTHING
7.3.4. OCCUPATION
7.4. RABHA
7.4.1. INTRODUCTION
7.4.2. LANGUAGE
7.4.3. CLOTHING
7.4.4. OCCUPATION
7.5. DEORI
7.5.1. INTRODUCTION
7.5.2. LANGUAGE
7.5.3. CLOTHING
7.5.4. OCCUPATION
8. MANIPUR
8.1. INTRODUCTION
8.2. TYPE OF TRIBES
8.3. MEITEI
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8.3.1. INTRODUCTION
8.3.2. LANGUAGE
8.3.3. CLOTHING
8.3.4. OCCUPATION
8.4. AIMOL
8.4.1. INTRODUCTION
8.4.2. LANGUAGE
8.4.3. CLOTHING
8.4.4. OCCUPATION
8.5. GANGTE
8.5.1. INTRODUCTION
8.5.2. LANGUAGE
8.5.3. CLOTHING
9. MEGHALAYA
9.1. INTRODUCTION
9.2. TYPE OF TRIBES
9.3. GARO
9.3.1. INTRODUCTION
9.3.2. LANGUAGE
9.3.3. CLOTHING
9.3.4. OCCUPATION
9.4. KHASI
9.4.1. INTRODUCTION
9.4.2. LANGUAGE
9.4.3. CLOTHING
9.4.4. OCCUPATION
9.5. KOCH
9.5.1. INTRODUCTION
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9.5.2. LANGUAGE
9.5.3. CLOTHING
9.5.4. OCCUPATION
9.6. HAJONG
9.6.1. INTRODUCTION
9.6.2. LANGUAGE
9.6.3. CLOTHING
9.6.4. OCCUPATION
10. MIZORAM
10.1. INTRODUCTION
10.2. TYPE OF TRIBES
10.3. CHAKMA
10.3.1. INTRODUCTION
10.3.2. LANGUAGE
10.3.3. CLOTHING
10.3.4. OCCUPATION
10.4. LAKHER
10.4.2. LANGUAGE
10.4.3. CLOTHING
10.4.4. OCCUPATION
10.5. MIZO
10.5.2. LANGUAGE
10.5.3. CLOTHING
10.5.4. OCCUPATION
10.6. HMAR
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10.6.2. LANGUAGE
10.6.3. CLOTHING
10.6.4. OCCUPATION
11. NAGALAND
11.1. INTRODUCTION
11.3. ANGAMI
11.3.2. LANGUAGE
11.3.3. CLOTHING
11.3.4. OCCUPATION
11.4. SEMA
11.4.2. LANGUAGE
11.4.3. CLOTHING
11.4.4. OCCUPATION
12. SIKKIM
12.1. INTRODUCTION
12.3. BHUTIA
12.3.2. LANGUAGE
12.3.3. CLOTHING
12.3.4. OCCUPATION
12.4. LEPCHA
12.4.2. LANGUAGE
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12.4.3. CLOTHING
12.4.4. OCCUPATION
12.5. LIMBOO
12.5.2. LANGUAGE
12.5.3. CLOTHING
12.5.4. OCCUPATION
12.6. TAMANG
12.6.2. LANGUAGE
12.6.3. CLOTHING
12.6.4. OCCUPATION
13. TRIPURA
12.1. INTRODUCTION
14. CONCLUSION
15. BIBLIOGRAPHY
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1. INTRODUCTION
India is a land of diversity. A land which is bounded by Himalayas in the north, Dense
vegetation/forest cover in the north eastern, Bay of Bengal to its south east, Indian
ocean to its south, Arabian sea to its south west and vast stretch of Thar desert to its
west. It was inaccessible from all the sides except the Khyber Pass in the Hindu Kush
mountains, a major reason to have conserved its identity without any influence from
the other world.
The most mysterious and unexplored being the North eastern part consisting of the
seven states collectively named the seven sisters in 1972. They are- Arunachal
Pradesh- the land of the rising sun, Assam, Meghalaya- the abode of the clouds,
Manipur- jewelled land, Mizoram- the land of the hill people, Nagaland and Tripura-3
cities. Sikkim being the sibling of the seven sisters. This vast land is also the basin of
the largest river of India- Brahmaputra.
2. AIM AND OBJECTIVE

Aim of DHAROHAR: To study our heritage, glorify the past, to create awareness and
promote conservation.
Objective of activity: To study the north eastern states of India under various
parameters.
3. SCOPE AND LIMITATION

The scope of the activity is the overall study of North-Eastern India
The limitation of the activity would be a detailed study of all the North-Eastern state’s
tribes and their settlement with an overview of the North Eastern Indian States.
4. METHODOLOGY
 Descriptive review of few authorised books on North East India & Tribes
settlement.
 Browsing for authentic information about it.
5. INTRODUCTION OF NORTH-EASTERN STATES
“North-East’’ is the combined name of the eastern part of India which includes the
provinces of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya,
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Tripura, and Manipur. Recognized on a vast expanse of dense jungle and majestic
mountains, North-East India shares its borders with Bhutan, Myanmar, Tibet and
Bangladesh. It spreads over 262,230 Sq. Km, and has great beauty as many mountain
towns have not yet been developed. The people of North East India have historically
held close ethical and cultural ties with Tibet, Bhutan and Myanmar.
The north eastern provinces of the Northeast are officially recognized under the North
Eastern Council (NEC), formed in 1971 as an inter-eight development organization he
says. At the time of the introduction of the NEC, the North eastern region had seven
You are only in the States. Sikkim was introduced as the eighth member in 2002.
Sikkim is small it is densely populated and the second-largest state in India.
The states of North Eastern Region are officially recognised under the North Eastern
Council (NEC), constituted in 1971 as the agency for the development of the eight
states. At the time of induction of NEC, the North Eastern Region comprised the
Seven Sister States only. Sikkim was introduced as the eighth member in 2002.
Sikkim is the least populous and the second smallest state in India.
Figure 1: Map of North-Eastern India
6. ARUNACHAL PRADESH
6.1. INTRODUCTION
Arunachal Pradesh is the largest state in northeastern India and is located in the
Eastern Himalayan province. The entire territory forms a complex hill system with a
range of heights ranging from 50m to foot hills and gradually rising to 7000 m,
traversing many rivers and streams. Guwahati is the capital of Arunachal Pradesh.
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Area: 83,743 km²
Population: 1.255 million
Figure 2: Map of Arunachal Pradesh
6.2. TYPE OF TRIBES

 Adi
 Aka
 Apatani
 Nyishi
 Tagin
 Galo
 Khamti
 Bugun
 Sherdukpen
 Khowa
 Momba
 Singho
6.3. NYISHI TRIBE
6.3.1. INTRODUTION
The Nyishi are the most populous people in Arunachal Pradesh and live in large parts
of the country. 'Nyishi' is translates as 'civilized person'. Nyishi tribal were the largest
ethnic group. The Nyishi tribe people counted around 300000.
6.3.2. LANGUAGE
Nyishi language is specially speaks by Nyishi tribal people in Arunachal Pradesh.
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6.3.3. CLOTHING
Their trademarks are the manufacture of sugarcane belts on men's wrists and long hair
bands for men.
Figure 3: Traditional Dress of Nyishi Tribe

Christianity is a major religion among the Nyishis. Nyokum is the festival celebrated
by the Nyishi people, which commemorates their ancestors.
6.3.5. OCCUPATION
The Nyishi are agriculturalists who practice jhum which is a form of shifting
cultivation. The principal crops raised include paddy, maize, cucumber, ginger. Rice is
the staple food of the people, supplemented by fish, meat of various animals, edible
tubers and leafy vegetables.
The traditional house is made of Wooden & Bamboo using (Thatch, Palm leaves,
Cane leaves and Banana Leaves) as roofing materials in any area. All joints are tied
with sugarcane cords. The floor of the Houses is raised 2.50 m above ground level and
the roof is 2.50 m above the ground. The system consists of a back porch, a standard
fireplace, a bedroom, a guest room, a Front Verandah and a separate verandah.
Tightening points prevent long-term cracks from spreading across the length of the
tube.
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Figure 4: Housing for Nyishi Tribe
They live at an altitude of 900 to 1,800 m in houses built of plumbing. The descent is
followed by the father's lines; a single genealogy, which can be up to 60 or 70 people,
lives together in a long house without separation but with a separate center for each
family reunion. Without this parental family there is no official community
organization or local government. Their religion includes belief in the supernatural.
6.4.ADI TRIBE
6.4.1. INTRODUCTION
Adi belongs to the southern part of the Himalayas. Adi word meaning is 'hill' or 'high
mountain'. They are some of the most prominent and orderly tribes. The Adi tribe
people counted around 32000.
6.4.2. LANGUAGE
The Adi tribal people speaks Sino-Tibetan Tani language
6.4.3. CLOTHING
Geometric patterns dominate the clothes worn by Adi. Simple, straight lines on Adi
tribal clothing to reflects the most disciplined lifestyle
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Figure 4: Traditional Dress of Adi Tribe
6.4.4. OCCUPATION
Adis are well-known wetland farmers, hunter-gatherers and women are extraordinary
in weaving skills. The Adi practice wet rice cultivation. Rice along with meat and
other vegetables serves as the staple food for them.
Adi's religion focuses on Donyi-Polo, the Sun-Moon god, who is considered the eye of
the world. They are notable for their bridges; the sugarcane bridges are a testament to
indigenous wisdom.
Their houses are raised above the ground with the help of poles, on which wooden
beams fasten to the floor. The roof is made of dried reeds, leaves, or grass. The houses
have no windows that make the living room dark or the limited sunlight passing
through the spaces between the wooden walls. Adi built their homes with locally
available materials such as bamboo, wood, sticks, or leaves without the use of nails.
Inside the house, there is a large room, which serves the purpose of sleeping, sitting,
cooking and eating. Some homes are divided into smaller rooms for married couples
and younger girls to have separate rooms. The center of the large room is a fireplace,
where the family gathers for cooking and relaxing.The space between the ground and
the ground is used to keep domestic animals such as cattle, chickens, pigs and to keep
the collection of dry firewood. Food scraps are thrown directly into the ground
through small gaps between the wooden joints. Adi built their homes with locally
available materials such as bamboo, wood, sticks, or leaves without the use of nails.
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Figure 5: Housing for Adi Tribe
6.5. GOLA TRIBE

6.5.1. INTRODUCTION
The Galo Tribe has the largest population of any other tribes in Arunachal Pradesh.
They are concentrated west of the Subansiri River and extended into the Sido River.
The Tamang tribe people counted around 38000.
6.5.2. LANGUAGE
They have Gallong as their native language and the society follows the common
methods of patriarchy and primogeniture
6.5.3. CLOTHING
They wear clothes made of cotton, wool, bamboo or animal skin and have exotic
colors and intertwined designs on each garment and accessories. Their diet consists
mainly of rice, meat, spices and bamboo powder.
6.5.4. OCCUPATION
Agriculture is the main occupation for getting food. Land is cultivated through shifting
cultivation. Shifting cultivation is a primitive type of agriculture. In this cultivation
they grow paddy, maize, millet, chilli and sweet potatoes. Hunting is more of
relaxation and pastime
6.5.5. RELIGION AND CULTURE
The Galo people are worshipers of the Mother Nature and are considerate of nature
and its resources as their friend. Music, Dance and Animal sacrifices also play a very
important role in culture.
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Houses in the typical Galo area are small and often compact. These houses were built
in the face of hot, humid climate. The houses are rectangular, with a long sloping roof
and an open courtyard attached to the main building. The main living room is usually
dominated by a sloping roof. The walls of the house are short and most importantly,
they have no windows.
The traditional Galo residence has two distinct units. First, there are two separate stairs
that are used to enter the house. These stairs are set up for the indiscriminate use of
male and female family members. The front of the house is mostly used by men while
the back part of the house is used by women. The front of the house is an open yard
where the men do their normal business. The house also contains a large hall. This is a
great opportunity for all multi-purpose activities. Galo's house is not only a protection
for family members but also a living organization.
Figure 6: Housing for Gola Tribe
Most Galo cities are made of wood. These logs are raised at an altitude of 1.5 to 2
meters above the ground. The spaces below these poles are used to store boats, which
are used during floods. Sticks are made of bamboo planks; interlocking bamboo wires
are tied across the bamboo spaces to form a final structure. Horizontal bamboo
members are attached to bamboo poles with the help of jute ropes. Cut bamboo joints
are used to make the required pumpkins and tenders to hold bamboo poles together.
The floors and walls are constructed of bamboo poles tied with sticks. Bamboo fabrics
are also laid on the floor. Using local materials to build a house has its benefits. One of
them has a very low maintenance cost. Also, these houses are resistant to termites and
also hold a strong abhorrence of water during the monsoon season.
6.6. MISHMI TRIBE
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6.6.1. INTRODUCTION
The Mishmi tribes or the Deng people of Tibet and Arunachal Pradesh live in
northeastern Arunachal. The Tamang tribe people counted around 38000.
6.6.2. LANGUAGE
Idu Mishmi language is the language spoken by Mishmi tribes.
6.6.3. CLOTHING
Mishmi men and women are very artistic and have a sense of beauty. Their good sense
of beauty is reflected in the delicate designs made on the garments produced in
handlooms. The Mishmi tribe can be distinguished differently from other tribal groups
in Arunachal Pradesh with their distinctive hair, distinct cultures and artistic patterns
embedded in their clothing.
6.6.4. OCCUPATION
Mishmi is accustomed to plowing with a bone of wet rice. Rice, Maize and wheat is
the staple food of this nation. Sweet Potatoes with Different Types of Arum and
vegetables are common plants.
The Mishmi people revered the Sun, Moon, mountains and rivers as gods. Reh made
only by men to know his relatives, to prosper, peace and family well-being.
6.6.6. HOUSING
The Mishmi House is as tall as a bus, a rectangular size elevated by more than two
meters from the ground and supported by wooden posts usually occupied by a close-
knit family. Bamboo, sugarcane, wood and tea leaves and straw are used for
construction. The front is extended by a roof with a low pet storage area and next to it
is a small porch / corridor made of bamboo or a plank to climb from the stairs into the
house. The house can have as many rooms as family members can. There is a specific
passage / area. Each room has a fireplace and is used for cooking and sleeping. The
subsequent division of the room consists of a men's room, called Agrah. There can be
roles between two toilet rooms and a husking of paddy. Each room has one window
facing the chicken yard and pigsty at the bottom of the house.
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Figure 6: Housing for Mishmi Tribe
7. ASSAM
7.1. INTRODUCTION
Assam is a province in northeastern India, located south and east of the Himalayas
near the Brahmaputra valleys and the Barak River. Assam covers an area of 78,438
km2 with a population of approximately 31,169,272.
7.2. TYPE OF TRIBES

 Chakma
 Dimasa
 Garo
 Hajong
 Hmar
 Rabha
 Dimasa
 Hajong
 Singhpho
7.3. BODO TRIBE

7.3.1. INTRODUCTION
Boro or bodo is the largest ethnolinguistic group in the state of Assam in India. They
are part of a large Bodo-Kachari family of ethnolinguistic groups and are scattered in
northeastern India. They are mainly focused on the Bodoland Territorial region of
Assam, although Boros resides in all other Assam regions.
7.3.2. LANGUAGE
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Bodo is spoken in the Assam and it is language of the Tibeto-Burman branch of Sino-
Tibetan
7.3.3. OCCUPATION
Boros are mostly settled farmers. Boro farmers also have traditional irrigation called
Dong system.
Boro culture is the culture of the Boro people in Assam. For long, Boros have been
farmers living in an Agrarian society with a strong tradition of fishery, poultry,
piggery, with rice and jute cultivation, and betel nut plantation. They make their own
clothing from scratch, such as traditional attires.
The Dwelling Complex of the bodo-kachari family surrounded by a high fence has
four grass structures around the central courtyard. The structure of the hut is largely
made of bamboo and grass with a partial use of wood and mud. The Bodo have a fine
artistic ability and that can be seen in the construction of their houses. The Bodo used
sugarcane, bamboo, wood, mud, grass etc. to build their houses. The typical Bodo
traditional family usually has four houses, on the four sides of the cisla (inner
courtyard) and khanta (the front yard of the south house). buildings etc. 4.2.1 Bakhri
(Granary) and Johannesburg (Cowshed). The two most important Bodo houses are
Bakhri (Granary) and Johannesburg (Cowshed) built east and south-east corner
respectively. The Bantu people built a small enclosure with bamboo poles in the
northeast corner of their homes, where ‘sijou’ (a type of cactus plant) is grown. The
Bantu people built a small enclosure with bamboo poles in the northeast corner of
their homes, where ‘sijou’ (a type of cactus plant) is grown. Next to it is a tulsi plant
(Holy basil). This open place of worship is called 'Sijousali'. Now, they have also
started building closed places of worship called ‘Thansali’ in their homes. According
to some, the ancient Both were worshipers of Deity Shiva.
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Figure 7: Housing for Bodo Tribe
7.4. RABHA TRIBE

7.4.1. INTRODUCTION
Rabha is a traditional Tibeto-Burman community. The people of Rabba have migrated
to many places since ancient times.
7.4.2. LANGUAGE
They speak different languages of Rabha.
7.4.3. CLOTHING
The women of the Rabbah were particularly fond of ornaments. They have used
ornaments as a symbol of social status, personal status, symbol of a particular ethnic
group, religion and social status, and are also used in artistic displays. Their ornaments
are usually embellished with gemstones, coins, silver or other precious metals and
similarly set into precious metals.
7.4.4. OCCUPATION
Agriculture is the main occupation of Rabha. During breaks, some work as day
laborers as well.
The women of the Rabha Tribe are greatly attracted in ornaments. They used
ornaments as a marker of social status, personal status, signifier of some form of
affiliation for belong to ethnic, religious and social tribe, and also used in artistic
display. The ornaments of them are often prepared with gemstones, coins, silvers or
other precious materials and likewise they are typically set into precious metals.
Baikho Dera is their main festival.
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The Rangdani Rabhas type house is made in a consistent manner. The selection of
house sites is an important factor in the construction of a house for all parties in
Rabbah. Various traditions are followed on the basis of the traditional magical belief
in the choice of residence. There is also a belief among rabbinic groups in choosing
their settlements in the North, South, and West of the compound. The north side of the
compound is to dig a well for drinking water, and the south side will be kept open.
The eastern side is suitable for digging the lake and the western part of the bamboo
and tree trunks should be planted as a protection against hurricanes and hurricanes that
often hit the west side.
Figure 8: Housing for Rabha Tribe
The traditional villages of Rabbah were selected on the basis of the families of the
ancient settlers. The History Rabhas living in the Trikikilla and Phulbari areas west of
the Garo Hills Meghalaya and Jairamkuchi and the large areas of Daduri-Makri in the
Goalpara district of Assam live in a group called „Songdam‟. The traditional pattern of
the house of Maitory Rabha was made of bamboo, wood and thatched roof. Their
houses are about 50 feet [50 m] long. The house has no front porch. The roof of the
house pointed to a sloping slope that ran down the grass on both sides. The walls of
the house are usually lined with bamboo wire mixed with cow dung, pieces of grass
and water. House flour also makes it clean and smooth with cow dung and manure. In
this tall house, there are two large rooms like a back room called Nansra ‟where a
platform is built in the family storage area especially the„ rontak ‟ (rice bowls) and
most of it is used as the living room for the family head. Another large front room is
used for guests.
7.5. DEORI TRIBE
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7.5.1. INTRODUCTION
Deori is one of the largest indigenous communities in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
Historically they lived in the area of Sadiya, Joidaam, Patkai on the hills and plains
above or also called the area near the Brahmaputra Valley.
7.5.2. LANGUAGE
Deori is one of the family languages of the Sino-Tibetan language. The Diorian
language is widely spoken in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh
7.5.3. CLOTHING
7.5.4. OCCUPATION
They worshiped King Shiva, as well as other Hindu deities. They even held the office
of high priest in several Hindu temples, including the famous Kamakhya temple. In
many parts of the Hindu scriptures and scriptures, there are numerous references to the
Deor peoples.
Deoris served as priests for the Chutia community. In British census reports, the
Deoris are referred to as Deori-Chutias. Society has preserved its races, languages,
religions, legends and traditional beliefs throughout the centuries.
Deoris live on the Bank of Rivers. The Deori people basically live in Chang Ghar
(Stilt house). The traditional Chang Ghar of the deori people build by using cane,
bamboo, wood etc. The first room to reach is called “Subasani” room which is set
centering the home deity. The lower section of the house they used for household
animals. Piggery is one of the favorite farming of Deori people and they give more
interest on it. In the floor of the upper section they pose some holes to directly passes
the unnecessary food grains to the animals in the lower. The fireplace attached with
the Chang (Floor) and called Dudepati. They use various meats, fishes and many
traditional vegetables use in their meals. S. Deori (2002), J.K. Deori (2004) mentioned
that, Deoris are worshipper of God- Kundimama.
Like all the houses on the island of Majuli, the villages / houses of the Deori tribe are
built on stilts so that they are not affected by floods / water logging. In the past, logs
were used for bamboo. Now many houses have replaced bamboo poles with concrete
pillars coz bamboo since natural product is aging in the weather and the metal needs to
be replaced and the building rebuilt from scratch. Previously the roof was made of
grass that was suitable for summer and winter but was a problem during the rainy
season. In this house they replaced the traditional roof of the house with tin grass.
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House building, walls, flooring is all done in the traditional way. The dining room and
open-air kitchen are free. Two windows on both sides create air.
Figure 9: Housing for Deori Tribe
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8. MANIPUR
8.1. INTRODUCTION
Manipur is a multinational ethnic group located in the eastern part of India. It has a
population of 28.55 lakhs according to the 2011 Census of India covering an area of
22,327 sq. km. All tribes communicate in their own languages among the same groups
while communication between different groups takes place in the Meitei or Manipuri
language, the official language of Manipur
8.2. TYPE OF TRIBES
 Anal
 Chiru
 Chothe
 Hmar
 Kom
 Koireng
 Koirao
 Mao
 Lankang
 Thandau
8.3. MEITEI TRIBE

8.3.1. INTRODUCTION
Meitei, also writing Meitei or Meithei, also known as Manipuri, is a large population
of Manipur in northeastern India. This area was once inhabited entirely by people like
hill tribes such as the Naga and Mizo. The Tamang tribe people counted around
38000.
8.3.2. LANGUAGE
The Meitei people speak Meiteilon (also known as Manipuri), a Tibeto-
Burman language.
8.3.3. CLOTHING
Meitei women wear Panan-type Panek but with a different style. They are a horizontal
line pattern called Panek mayeknaibi or single block color. The borders are decorated
with high-quality drawings. It usually goes with a blouse and a similar enapper like
Dupatta but it is usually obvious.
8.3.4. OCCUPATION
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The main work of the people of Manipur in agriculture is also supported by small
industries such as drug and pharmaceutical units, small companies that manufacture
and produce electrical goods, metal, plastic and cement industries.
Meitei’s follows only two religions, most of them major Meitei’s operate differently
from Hinduism. About 14% of the Meiteis traditionally believe in the Sanamah
religion named after God.
The people of Manipur mostly live as joint family and they follow the patriarchal
pattern of society. The right to inherit the property and the family name is taken by the
direct blood relationship. The dwellings are made of straw reinforced mud thick wall,
and basically this is a perfect dwelling unit of an ideal Meitei family, few generations
back. Few people of our generation had the opportunity to live in it and enjoy the
essence of it and cherish the life style. They are having separate specific spaces for
specific functions. This reflects the respect, privacy and identity given to each member
of the family and their personal spaces. This is the origin of our sincerity, honesty,
character and culture.
Figure 10: Housing for Meitei Tribe
8.4. AIMOL TRIBE

8.4.1. INTRODUCTION
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These are hilly people but recently most of them have shifted to the plains. The
Tamang tribe people counted around 38000.
8.4.2. LANGUAGE
They speak Aimol language, classified under Kuki-Chin-Mizo language.
8.4.3. CLOTHING
The men wear dhotis, a sleeveless coat which is embroidered in special patterns. They
adorn their head with an elaborately put together headgear.
The women wear a black wraparound dress with a white cloth which is tied around the
waist and wear an elaborate headgear which is similar to the men’s.
8.4.4. OCCUPATION
They practice slash and burn agriculture. Their main occupation is agriculture and co-
operative activities including the rearing of cattle, pigs and birds. Paddy planting is
done by both sexes. Weaving and raising livestock brings good income to the family.
Most of them are primarily christians. They often worshiped a number of idols for a
number of reasons, such as Sailing and Bonglei as guardians of their home.
Aimol families are very small in medium size. Families are made up of a type of
nuclear device that contains parents and children. The direction of houses is always
towards the east, facing the rising sun then around dwelling houses, satellite sheds are
used as granary storehouse, cattle shed and many more things. The traditional house of
the Aimol people reveals many similarities in common appearance with those in
Meiteis, Purums etc. living nearby. It is a type of rectangular box with a slanting crest
roof. The average breathing length is approximately 1: 3 or 1: 5. The number of
chambers may be 3 or 5 in number. The houses are basically made of wood, bamboo
and mud and thatch is used as roofing material.
8.5. GANGTE TRIBE

8.5.1. INTRODUCTION
They are one of the largest Kuki-Chin tribes living in the provinces of Churachandpur,
Tamenglong and Senapati. They have a large population of about 40,000 people
worldwide.
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8.5.2. LANGUAGE
The indigenous language of the tribe is derived from the original name Gangte and is
believed to be one of the texts of the Tibeto-Burman language.
8.5.3. CLOTHING
They were cotton garments made from traditional weaving machines and knitting
machines, but gradually they were woven into wool. The Gangte tribe has three
important and traditional costumes. Puandum is a plant with yellow, black and red
particles.
The village occupies primacy on par with other forms of institutions among the
Gangtes. the village constitutes the bedrock of social, economic and administrative
complex of the Gangtes. Owing to their nomadic tendency, the Gangtes are rarely
famed for establishing a flourishing village. The primitive Gangte villages were built
along the ridges on top of the hills. These sites gave them security from frequent inter-
tribal conflicts and are more hygienic than the damp area and the insect ridden thickly
wooded river valleys. But one disadvantage of hill-village is the scarcity of water.
Houses were usually erected on wooden beams, depending on the slope. Bamboo clay
was used on floors and walls. The roof is made of grass made from the leaves of
certain trees or grass that they call Laisanah, Siellunah, etc. When a typical Gangte
house is built, it is mostly made of wood, grass, and bamboo. The front wall is often
doubled as a guess, in which the owners show the closed animal heads.
9. MEGHALAYA
9.1. INTRODUCTION
It is a northeastern state of India formed by drawing two regions from the province of
Assam. The population of Meghalaya is estimated at 3,211,474. Meghalaya covers an
area of about 22,430 sq km, with an average length of about 3: 1.
9.2. TYPE OF TRIBES
 Chakma
 Kachari dimasa
 Pawi
 Rabha
 Biate
 Mikir
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 Khasi
 Garo
 Jantia
 Hajong
9.3. GARO TRIBE

9.3.1. INTRODUCTION
The Garos are a Tibeto-Burman native from the Indian subcontinent. It is found
mainly in the Indian states of Meghalaya, Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, and others
neighboring Bangladesh. They are the second largest tribe in Meghalaya
9.3.2. LANGUAGE
Garo, or A · chikku (in Garo), is the Sino-Tibetan language spoken India in the Garo
Hills region of Meghalaya
9.3.3. CLOTHING
Women in the remote hills of Garoon wear the eking, which is a small cloth that is
worn around the waist. Garo women who live in densely populated or densely
populated areas wear elaborate robes cotton. They wear a shirt and a handmade lungi
called Dakmanda, tied at the waist, with borders that are 6 to 10 inches wide with
colorful flowers. The men of the Garo tribe wear the thread as their traditional cloth.
9.3.4. OCCUPATION
Garos depend on nature. Their job is to hunt with a hero known as Matgrik. They do
jhum cultivation. The occupation of the area is mainly livestock and poultry
management. The main crops are rice, ginger, sorghum, bananas, vegetables, cold and
cotton.
In the case of Garos's main family the heir's husband becomes Nokma (chief). Nokma
manages his wife's property and assigns plots to different families to cultivate, without
doing other chores. Women own property and there is a tradition where a young
daughter dies from her mother’s estate. These tribes are a great lover of music and
dance. Various musical instruments such as stringed instruments, musical instruments
and artificial instruments are used by the nation.
they build structures that work with bamboo, especially for life and storage, but they
also do well. The traditional architecture of Garo is an excellent example of traditional
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architecture. These buildings are mainly made of sugarcane, bamboo, reeds, wood and
mud. Mostly houses are built on stilts and the space below is used as a storage area for
poultry. The roof is soft because of the excess rainfall in the region. They usually use
locally available building materials such as timber, bamboo, sugarcane and grass
Figure 11: Housing for Garo Tribe
SETTLEMENT
The construction of the Garo can be divided into the following categories:
Nokmong- A house where all the A'chik family can live together. The house is
designed in such a way that the interior of the house, with provisions bedroom, center,
health facilities, kitchen, water storage, location a winepress, a place to be used as
cattle shed or to feed a kraal cow and space between the clay floor and the enlarged
stage for use as pigsty and in the back of the house, the raised platform acts as a
hencoop bird preservation and wood preservation, so all requirements are met in full
provided for one house.
Nokpante - The name Nokpante means house of bachelors. Nokpantes are usually
housed in the front yard of Nokma, the king. Planting arts, arts and culture, and
various sports are also taught in Nokpante for young boys by boys and adults.
Jamsreng- In some places, in a rice field or orchard, small booths were built. They are
called Jamsreng or Jamap. Seasonal fruits or seeds are collected and stored or used for
sleeping.
Jamatal- A small house, a type of small house, built in the jhum fields is called
Jamatal or ‘wild house’. In some places, where there is danger from wildlife, a small
house with a staircase on a tree is built. This is called a Borang or ‘tree house’.
Bandasal- This is like a rest house. Usually built before Nokma's house.
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Jam nok- harvested grain storage such as millet and paddy, Garos used to build a
granary or a storehouse far away about 30-40 meters from the house. Distance
protection to them in the spread of fire
9.4. KHASI TRIBE
9.4.1. INTRODUCTION
These are a small group of a group called the Hynniew trep which means 'Seven Huts'
in khasi. They are known as some of the first settlers in the Indian Subcontinent.
9.4.2. LANGUAGE
Khasi is the language spoken by khasis, which is an Austro-Asiatic language. It is part
of the Monkhmer languages.
9.4.3. OCCUPATION
The work of Khasis is called JHUM It means farming which they can do to survive.
They have an economy based on the poor. There are more than 100 khasi villages in
Sylhet Division. The Khasi people mainly do farming, grow betel palm and do other
business.
9.4.4. CLOTHING
Khasi's traditional men's dress is the Jymphong, sleeveless coat with no collar, Festive
events from Jymphong and sarong for decoration waist-band and can also wear a
turban. The traditional dress of the Pages is called Jainsem or Dhara, both of which are
instead it extends to several pieces of fabric, giving the body a cylindrical shape. On
during the festival, they can wear a silver or gold crown. Spike or peak fixed behind
the crown, which is accompanied by feathers worn by menfolk.
9.4.5. CULTURE AND RELIGION-
Khasis are usually Christian. In Khasis's community, the woman looks after the home
and the center, the man finds ways to support the family, and the mother's uncle
prepares all social and religious affairs. Khasis follows the family estate plan. In
Khasis's community, only the youngest daughter or "Ka Khadduh" is eligible to inherit
the ancestral heritage.
The traditional houses of Khasi are built on high foundations. The roof is made of
grass and the walls can be made of materials such as limestone, mud walls made of
mud or grass depending on the weather conditions. Mud and stone walls are common
in areas with heavy rainfall. The building plan consists mainly of columns and beams
with columns buried in the floor. The floor is periodically supported with limestone or
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wooden pillars. Some of the features of traditional House that conform to the
requirements of the modern building code include the fact that they are rarely formed
on hilly peaks and have an oval shape with no sharp corners, thus avoiding stress
concentration which is a major source of failure in wall corners during earthquakes.
Nails are not used in construction, and the grooves and tongues used allow for the
melting of earthquake loads.
Figure 12: Housing for Khasi Tribe
The roof is made of light material to kill people who die from a failed roof. There are
elements of earthquake resistance in traditional construction, which can be helpful in
building better earthquake-resistant homes in modern times, especially in low-lying
rural and urban areas in earthquake-prone countries. Keywords: building codes,
earthquakes, earthquakes resistant features, khasi houses, Shillong, traditional
construction.
9.5. KOCH TRIBE
9.5.1. INTRODUCTION
Rajbongshi or Koch-Rajbongshi is an ethic group based in parts of Assam,
Meghalaya, north of Wes Bengal, Bihar and the eastern parts of Nepal, Bhutan and
northern Bangladesh.The population of the koch tribe is 1872.
9.5.2 LANGUAGE
Their real language is the Tibeto-Burman dialect, a large group of groups in the 21st
century he spoke Bengali or other Indo-Aryan languages.
9.5.3. CLOTHING
"Patan / Phota" is a traditional dress of a Koch-Rajbongshi woman. It is produced with
handloom at home in different colors. Angcha is a traditional dress of Koch-
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Rajbongshi man. It is produced by handloom at home in different colors 6 meters long
and 3 feet wide. Gamcha is a rectangular cotton piece of cotton that is produced by
handloom mainly in yellow
9.5.4. OCCUPATION
The Koch Rajbongshi community has traditionally been mainly agricultural
community, rice, maize and maize crops are widely grown. Rice is a staple food most
people. Caste is mostly agricultural, but there are also Rajbanshi carpenters,
metalworkers, and merchants.
The Koch people have their own customs, legends, books, beliefs and traditions. Both
the man and the woman worshiped different kinds of gods and ceremonies,
occasionally wearing their traditional dress. Some of the Koches of Kokrajhar and
Dhubri districts of Assam have converted to Christianity. But the Koches of
Meghalaya and other parts of Assam are Hindu and still worship traditional gods and
goddesses. Pabuzi Wai is a very important deity and is celebrated as a traditional
festival every year.
The home design of the typical Koch Rajbanshi house is important in a rectangular
pattern, with an open space (egina / aingna) in the middle. This is mainly done to
protect wildlife from strong winds. Manasha’s Thakurghor or Kali Thakur at the
entrance should be in the entire Koch-Rajbongshi house. The north side is dominated
by betel nut and orchards, and the west contains bamboo gardens while the east and
south are often left open to allow sunlight and air to enter the house. Although such a
pattern is most prominent among the gentry who have arrived.
9.6. HAJONG TRIBE
9.6.1. INTRODUCTION
Hajong is a national team native to the Indian subcontinent, especially in the
northeastern states of India and Bangladesh. Most Hajongs are based in India.The total
number of Hajong is currently no more than 15000.
9.6.2. LANGUAGE
Hajongs have their own language, but they have no alphabet. Their spoken language is
a combination of local language. Speaking in common Bangla is a common practice
among them. Hajong was originally a member of the Tibeto-Burmese language group,
but later came into contact with Assamese and Bangla. Modern education is slowly
spreading to the Hajong community.
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9.6.3. CLOTHING
Hajongs women wear Pathim. Its fabric is horizontal, colored, rectangular. Her dress
by wrapping a skirt covering her upper and lower body. A Hajongs man wears Nighli
covering their bodies with a handkerchief and the man also wears a Gamsa covering
the lower part of the body and crossing the wea during the winter.
9.6.4. OCCUPATION
Like many other indigenous peoples, the Hajongs are actually a farming community.
At one time they used to plow Jhum, but now they are plowing with a plow. Next to
rice and other crops they grow cotton and make fabrics at home. In addition to these
activities, people in the Hajong community collect firewood from the forests and
perform other types of work.
Hajongs are Hindu and maintains Hindu customs and traditions. The people of Hajong
celebrate Hindu festivals like Durga Puja and Kamakhya Puja. It is run by Dyaoshi or
Nungtang, a Hajong expert. The Hajongs also celebrated their pre-rain harvest festival
known as ‘Biswa’. Kani puja, Katka puja, is also made. The people of Hajong
practiced some of their traditional religious practices.
Each village of Hajong has 20 to 40 families. They lived mostly on lowlands and on
small hills. Most people can speak Garo, Assamese and Bengali in Meghalaya, Hindi
in Arunachal, and Bangla in Bangladesh.
Figure 12: Housing for Hajong Tribe
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Hajongs erect or build houses with the help of mud, bitten bamboo, wood, bamboo,
grass, rope or bamboo, bamboo frame on the roof, and wood or bamboo poles. The
houses are muddy until they are thick enough to protect the bamboo from the rain and
last longer. Gone are the days now. People do not put mud in their houses. The houses
have one stage and have a porch. The traditional rice mill is located on the porch. The
weaving area was also used for a veranda, but now a separate weaving house has been
built. The kitchen is uniquely designed with a large house. Nowadays as people have
more money they build their houses with cement, cans and buildings.
10. MIZORAM
10.1. INTRODUCTION
Mizoram is one of the northeastern state of India, with the Aizawl as its capital. The
name Mizoram means "Land of the hill people". It is the 2nd least populated in the
world. About 91% of the province is forested.
Mizoram's population was 1,091,014.
Mizoram covers an area of approximately 21,087 square kilometers.
10.2. TRIBES OF MIZORAM
 Pawi (Lai)
 Garo
 Hajong
 Khasi
 Ralte
 Naga
 Mikir (Karbis)
 Paite
 Dimasa
 Baites
10.3. CHAKMA
The Chakama people are a group of indigenous people from the eastern regions of the
Indian subcontinent. They are the largest group in Mizoram, and they are the largest
tribal groups in Tripura. They have their old traditions, language and writings. The
Chakma tribe people counted around 80000 to 100000
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10.3.2. LANGUAGE
The Chakmas have their own language which is Changma Bhajch or Changma Hodha
10.3.3. CLOTHING
The women of Chakama wear an ankle-length fabric called PINON. They also paint a
beautifully crafted fabric on top of a waistband called HAADI. The women of
Chakama also wear traditional silver ornaments.
10.3.4. OCCUPATION
Chakmas were usually are farmers. Some Chakmas have given up their farming
methods and entered the labor market. Those who were fortunate enough to receive
the necessary education went to missionary and other white jobs.
Many, however, work as factory workers and industrial workers that grow along the
Karnafuli River valley
Chakmas generally follow the Southern, or Theravada, form of Buddhism. However,
their form of Buddhism has elements of Hinduism and traditional religions as well.
Buddhist priests or nuns are called Bhikhus. Chakmas offer sacrifices of goats,
chickens, or ducks to ward off evil spirits and are believed to bring fever and disease
The Chakmas build their houses on slopes near a river or stream. Same families can
build in the same area, build a home/ bari. Baris group together to form villages /para
and a number of villages forming a valley/ gram. The traditional Chakama house is
made of bamboo. It is made of bamboo or wooden platform about two meters above
the ground. The mat walls separate the house into separate rooms. The porch in front
of the house is divided into two sections by a separate mat wall. One place is used by
men and boys and the other is used by women and girls. Small rooms can be built to
store grain and other items. Household items from baskets to smoking hoses are made
of bamboo. Almost every part of Chakma has a Buddhist temple /kaang.
10.4. LAKHER
The Lakhers are a Kuki tribe in the Lushai Mountains of Mizoram. Lakher the name
given to these people is Mizos. The Lakher tribe people counted around 12000.
10.4.2. LANGUAGE
The Lakher speak Mara Chin, a Sino-Tibetan Phylum language.
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10.4.4. OCCUPATION
Trading is not a big part of Lakher’s economy. Beehives are also collected, waxed,
and sold by Lakher.
The Lakhers worship a single deity believed to be the creator of the universe, who
decides the fate of all creatures.
Lakher villages are usually located on a slope just below the summit of a hill or
mountain. Village settlements are permanent, where people choose not to relocate as
this may require disposal of ancestral burial sites. Temporary settlements in the fields
during planting to eliminate the need for migration as there is a need for additional
jhum land. The construction of individual homes is similar, and there is rarely a main
road within the village limits.
Figure 12: Housing for Lakher Tribe
In the past, each village had an inner fortress (s) where retreating was carried out in
the event of an attack on outsiders, with a network of sender spaces, setting up security
measures, and traps built on the roads leading to the valley. This reinforcement
program is no longer available in the villages of Lakher. The size and content of
individual homes varies depending on the social status of the occupant. The building
materials consist of wood, bamboo, reed yarn, and palm (or bamboo) leaves. Family
size ranges from five to ten people, with five being the norm. A normal family can be
great if a married son does not build his own home with his family.
10.5. MIZO
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The people of Mizo hail from northeastern India. The term includes several ethnic
groups that speak the various languages of Kuki-Chin. The Mizos are indigenous
people in the Indian state of Mizoram and the surrounding areas. The Mizo tribe
people counted around 38000.
10.5.2. LANGUAGE
The official and most widely spoken language is Mizo tawng, a common language
throughout the Mizos, belonging to the Tibeto-Burman family.
10.5.3. CLOTHING
Women are a traditional dress called 'Puan'. A well-crafted design with perfect
proportions makes it an ideal garment for the people of Mizoram. Puanchei is a dress
worn by many Mizo women during festivals. The main costume is Pawl Kut and
Chapchar Kut.
10.5.4. OCCUPATION
Agriculture is the main occupation of the Mizos who practice jhum or dynamic
farming. The government has now introduced new farming methods with the new
purpose of purifying people so that they can farm permanently.
Most Mizo people are Christians. All Mizo tribes and families, in their traditional
mythology, claim that Chhinlung / Sinlung / Khul, meaning 'fenced in stone' in the
Mizo languages, was the foundation of the Mizos
Houses built by the Mizo tribe, are mostly used for bamboo and wood in their
construction. Many houses are built on slopes and are supported by beams of varying
lengths of wood, so that the house is horizontally aligned with the street level. A
bamboo frame is placed over a bamboo frame, which forms the floor of the house. The
walls of the house were also built of bamboo flooded tied to the outer edges. The roof
consists of sturdy and split bamboo frames covered with thick grass and other types of
leaves. Reeds are often used to keep joints together and in some cases, metal nails. If
the floor of the house is very above ground, a ladder made entirely of a piece of wood
is placed across the entrance space between the floor of the house and the ground.
Doors and windows are usually made of bamboo and this is fastened to the wall.
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Figure 13: Housing for Mizo Tribe
The typical Mizo village was a breeding ground for activities. A collection of bamboo
huts on the pillars, the village was usually located on top of a hill. It consisted of about
three hundred to five hundred houses in general, with the king's palace extending the
center, surrounded by the houses of the village elders.
10.6. HMAR TRIBE

In Mizoram, the Haram people found in the Aizawl, Kolasib, Champhai and Lunglei
regions the Hmars are generally considered to be part of the larger Mizo tribe. The
Hmar tribe lives in a large area of northeastern India Perzawl District of Manipur, in
various parts of Tripura and Cachar, Hailakandi, Karimganj, and the NC Hills District
of Assam. The Hmar tribe people counted around 30000.
10.6.2. LANGUAGE
The Hmar Tribe Hindi, English and Hmas is a language day in everyday life. They are
mainly Baptists and follow Christianity.
The Hmar Tribe tradition is to bring back dance forms, festivals, music etc. The
culture is enhanced by amazing national anthems and dance forms
10.6.3. CLOTHING
The traditional dress of the Hmar Tribal community is brightly colored with bright and
shiny colors. The girls wear short skirts and the men wear coats and chongas.
10.6.4. OCCUPATION
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The Hmar Tribes are farmers as they make a living by farming: The middle-class
people believe in their hands and are known for their heroism. Hmar women are great
weavers in their small hips. The handicrafts by the Hmars often depict scenes of war,
entertainment, romance, victory, and history.
Hmar Tubes built churches in their villages and religious rituals were performed
according to Christian principles. Hmars builds their villages on the hills - the walls
and houses are made of wood, the Slash & bum farming system for agricultural
practices is still very active by the Hram Tribe. In the year 1910 a Welsh Missionary
Watkin Roberts introduced the Hmar Tribe of mainly southern region of Manipur to
Christianity. The Hmar Tribe migrated from China and settled first in Burma and
scattered in & around Manipur, Mizoram and North Cachar Hills in Assam. Hmars
were the first settlers in what is now the state of Mizoram (“land of the Mizo people”),
as can be seen by the Hmar names of many villages and rivers in the Champhai area of
the state, bordering Myanmar.
11. NAGALAND
11.1. INTRODUCTION
Nagaland is a state in north-eastern India. Kohima is the capital and its largest city
Is Dimapur.
Area: 16,579 sq.km
Population: 1,980,602
11.2. TRIBES OF NAGALAND
 Naga
 Kuki
 Kachari
 Mikir
 Garo
11.3. ANGAMI
The Angami tribe is listed as a Scheduled Tribe of the Indian Constitution
11.3.2. LANGUAGE
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Angami have their own language known as Angami.
11.3.3. CLOTHING
The women mainly opt for plain and a white cloth with black 1m, marginal bands. The
Naga men dress in length which consists of a narrow piece of blue or white clothes,
some four feet long and 25 centimeters broad.
11.3.4. OCCUPATION
• Making of baskets
• Weaving of cloth
• Wood carving
• Pottery and Metalwork
• Jewellery-making and Bead-work

The Angami are famous for their woodworking and craftsmanship. The people of
India know them as a manufacturer of bamboo works, sugarcane furniture, beds,
towels and sturdy cones. They love music and play music with the help of a drum and
a flute. Angami women also make pottery in their homes.
The Majoro religion followed by the Angami Nagaland tribe is Christianity.The
Angami field is made up of the current Kohima region, which is divided into four
regions: Southern Angami, Western Angami, Northern Angami, Chakhro Angami.
The divided Angami of the East are now revered as Chakhesang.
The fortresses of the village included large wooden doors, traps, and canals filled with
panjis and Stone walls (up to ten feet [3 m] in diameter) surround Angami villages. A
typical Angami house is a one-story structure with leveled earth used as flooring. It is
from 10 to 20 meters in length and from 6 to 12 meters in width. The materials used in
the home stream are determined by the condition of each individual in the village, and
there are four such titles: The first-floor house can have a thatched roof.
• the second-floor house with bargeboards.
• the third-floor house with bargeboards and kika (house horns)
• And the fourth-floor house with wood and wood (sometimes different in layout
and placement). The interior of each house has three rooms.
• The front room (kiloh) is part of the length of the house. Paddy is kept here in a
basket by one or both walls and the room is provided with a bench (pikeh) of
strong rice.
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• The second room (fireplace) is divided by a wooden partition containing a door.
Figure 14: Housing for Angami Tribe
11.4. SEMA
The Sema Naga Tribe is mainly located in the Sadiya and Margherita regions of the
Tinsukia region. The national team is originally from the Mongoloid. They are the
people of Zunheboto District of Nagaland
11.4.2. LANGUAGE
Sümi, also called Sema, is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken in sema tribe in Nagaland.
11.4.3. CLOTHING
Weaving has been practiced less in Sema villages as compared to the other
neighboring tribes. However, in recent years the Sema women are found to produce
shawls and skirts which are greatly being appreciated both inside and outside
Nagaland for their delicate vibrant patterns.
11.4.4. OCCUPATION
Almost all Sema villages existed in the hilly regions in Nagaland. The Sema village is
usually built either on the summit of a hill or on the shoulder of a spur. Down, near the
valley of the river Dayang, where the climate is hot, a summit is usually chosen, but in
the higher and colder regions, a shoulder below the ridge of a range of hills is a
common site for a village. Openings were kept to a minimum to retain as much heat
within the house as possible. The fireplace was situated in the living quarters which
helped in raising comfort levels within these spaces. Morungs were community
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buildings, one building for boys and another for girls in each village. These buildings
were used for public works.
Figure 15: Housing for Sema Tribe
The interio r of the Sema house was ordinarily divided into four parts –
 The Akishekhoh – or front room where the rice pounding tables were kept.
 The Abidelabo – a narrow room between the Akishekhoh and the Amiphokiboh
(hearth room) where the unmarried girls of the household sleep.
 The Akuzu-Abo – where the head of the family (father) and his wife sleeps.
 The Azhi-Bo – the liquor room where rice beer is stored in bamboo jugs.
12. SIKKIM
12.1 INTRODUCTION
Sikkim is a state in northeastern India with Himalayas in the eastern. Sikkim is also
close to India's Siliguri Corridor near Bangladesh. With an area of 7096 sq. km,
Sikkim is the least congested and second smallest among the Indian states. In the
southeastern part of the state is the capital Gangtok. The total population being 6.11
lakh as per Census 2011.
12.3. BHUTIA
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The Bhutia are a community of Sikkimese people of Tibetan ancestry, who are spread
out over Sikkim and some districts of Kalimpong and Darjeeling in India also. The
Bhutia tribe people counted around 60,300. They are mountain dwellers living in
small villages and isolated farmstead that are separated by almost trackless terrain.
12.3.2. LANGUAGE
The language spoken by the Bhutias in Sikkim is Sikkimese, which is 85% mutually
intelligible with Tibetan and Dzongkha, the language of Bhutan
12.3.3. CLOTHING
Bakhu, a loose cloak type garment fastened at the neck on one side and near the waist
with a silk/cotton belt is the traditional outfit of Bhutias. Male members carry the
bakhu with loose trousers, while women wear the bakhu with a silken full sleeve
blouse called a honju which is a loose gown type garment fastened tight near the waist
with a belt.
12.3.4. OCCUPATION
They are mostly employed in the government sector in agricultural field. Crops mainly
grown by them are rice, corn (maize), and potatoes. Some of them are animal breeders
too.
Bhutias follow a hierarchical system of bride and groom selection and practice
intermarriage within their clan. As Losar being its most important festival among the
Bhutias in India, and it is marked by the traditional Cham dancing and merry-making.
Fire dances are also common in the evenings during Losar.
The traditional house of Bhutia is called khim and is usually rectangular. The Bhutias
have a stone building outside the house that is used to burn incense. It is called sang
bum (where Sang means incense and bum means vase). The shape of the building is
like a vessel. It is used to burn sang, a sacred offering to the gods. Gods are given
dried fragrant leaves / poles of rhododendron anthopogon, juniperus recurva, pine
sticks. The Botias usually live in groups as do the Lepa and Limbus. Most Bhutias and
Lepcha houses are two rectangular colored buildings. These houses are built on very
stone foundations and are usually supported by poles made of tree trunks. The floor of
each house is enclosed in a cage for pets, especially cattle. Houses made of wood and
bamboo were torn down with mud. The roof is made of reeds, grass, and bamboo, and
the walls of these houses are usually made of earthenware. In Sikkim it shows that
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traditional houses fit the tradition of stone wood in an area where there is not enough
rain.
Figure 16: Housing for Bhutia Tribe
12.4. LEPCHA
Lepcha is a tribe of Himalayan range live at the northeast corner of India. They were
also known as the Rong which means the children of God. They are the indigenous
peoples of Sikkim, India and Nepal. They have also migrated in other North-Eastern
States for economic reason. The Lepcha tribe people counted around 80,000.
12.4.2. LANGUAGE
The Lepcha have their language called Lepcha, which belongs to the Bodish–
Himalayish group of Tibeto-Burman languages.
12.4.3. CLOTHING
The traditional clothing of the Lepcha women is dumbun of ankle length, also called
dumdyám or gādā (women's dress). One large piece of smooth cotton or silk, usually a
light color.
The traditional Lepcha men's clothing is dumprá (men's clothing). It is a colorful,
hand-woven cloth tied around one shoulder and held at the waist, usually worn over a
white shirt and trousers.
Most of the Lepcha are Buddhist, a religion brought by the Bhutias in the north,
although a large number of Lepchas today have embraced Christianity. Many cultures
involve local species. Many of the Lepcha in the Sikkim mountains are Christian. The
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Lepchas says that when bamboo flowers, it may be a bad sign like warning of famine,
scarcity of food, unfortunate disaster etc.
Traditionally, Lepchas live in a local house called li. The traditional home is made of
wood and bamboo and sits about 1.2 to 1.5 m above the ground on poles. A wooden
house with a thatched roof is a natural coolant and adhesive. In the traditional house of
Lepcha there are no nails used in the construction and the movement of the earthquake
is friendly since the weight of the house rested on large stone tablets and was not
planted in the ground. The villages of Lepcha have 15 or 20 houses, scattered on a hill
or in the forest. The floor is made of wood, raised 1 m or 1.5m above the ground, with
less space used for keeping pets. The house simply consists of three bedrooms: a
bedroom, a guest room, and a kitchen / store room. The furniture can be fitted with
low wooden chairs, or built-in wooden benches for comfort. Many villages have a
gompa or Buddhist monastery, and Buddhist prayer flags waving in the breeze are a
common sight in valleys throughout the region. The villages are connected by
mountain trails, there are roads, and people have the ability to cross hills and carry
loads in veins that are often steep and even mules.
Figure 17: Housing for Lepcha Tribe
MATERIALS
The roof is made of wooden batten, rafters, beams, and bamboo poles and is covered
with thick grass, reeds, and to last for several years. The bamboo called “poo” in
Lepcha is a widely used plant for the construction of sugarcane bridges, bamboo
swamps, houses, etc.
12.5. LIMBOO
12.5.1. INTRODUTION
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The Limbu or Yakthung are indigenous and native to the Himalayan Limbuwan region
of the Indian subcontinent, which is now Eastern Nepal,
western Sikkim, Kalimpong India and Western Bhutan. The Limboo tribe people
counted around 70,000.
12.5.2. LANGUAGE
Limbu is one of the few Sino-Tibetan languages of the Central Himalayas that
possesses its own pre-20th century scripts.
12.5.3. CLOTHING
The traditional dress of the Limbus is mekhli and taga. Limbu Women weave Dhaka
fabric cloth on their traditional small hand looms made from bamboo and wood for
their dress.
12.5.4. OCCUPATION
The Limbus traditionally practiced subsistence farming. Rice and maize comprised
their principal crops. Although there is an abundance of arable land, productivity is
greatly limited by insufficient technology. Excess crops are often traded for food that
cannot be grown in the region.
The house of Limbus is a symbolic representation of a feminine character and Yuma
— a goddess of the Limbu community. The details of the windows and doors are
embroidered with wood carvings depicting different flowers which are used during
rituals and gold jewelry worn by Limbu women.
In the traditional house of the Limbus, the skirting of wall is usually hand-painted with
red mud paint. A distinctive feature of the house is muring-sitlam or a main pillar /
column of the house in the middle of the house on the ground floor. The pillar is
generally believed to be the people of Limbu as a building where the goddess Yuma
lives in a house. The evolution of the form and spaces of the houses have been
inspired by the everyday lifestyle and culture of the people which is similar in many
communities. The emergence of form and housing spaces is encouraged by the daily
life and culture of people belonging to the community.
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Figure 18: Housing for Limboo Tribe
12.6. TAMANG
Tamang people are found in significant numbers in Indian state of Sikkim and districts
of Darjeeling and Kalimpong in India. They are an ethnic group originating in Nepal.
The Tamang tribe people counted around 38000.
12.6.2. LANGUAGE
The tamang have their own language, also called tamang. Their language is the fifth
most spoken language in Nepal.
12.6.3. CLOTHING
Tamang women wear a blouse wit usually red or black in color, a cloth piece wrapped
around the waist and a cloth belt (patuka) holding it.
12.6.4. OCCUPATION
The chief occupation of Tamangs was agriculture.
About 90% of Tamang are Buddhist. Their language comes from the Tibeto-Burman
family. They follow the Chinese lunar calendar for a 12-year cycle. Printed Buddhist
colored cloths are placed in various locations in towns and cities.
The traditional houses of Tamang had a square or rectangular structure, one or two
erected, with a thatched roof when the walls were made of stone or planks or plowed
bamboo and sprinkled with black, red, and white mud. There was also a ladder inside
the house made of bamboo to climb to the top where two or three small halls had little
space for food - grain. Their traditional houses are made of stone and wood. The
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South-Eastern walls are made entirely of wood. Some load-bearing walls are made of
dry stone.
Groundwater is mainly used for livestock and cattle. Upstairs, the family lives, eats,
and sleeps in one large common area around the fireplace. The attic is used for the
storage of agricultural products, tools and other items. The houses are built close to
each other, many of which share their side walls. The Tamangs preferred to live as a
united family rather than a nuclear club. It also shows how close the community is and
how close it is. As families multiplied over the years, houses were added to the
existing houses and the beautiful Tamang area grew from house to house.
13. TRIPURA
13.1. INTRODUCTION
Tripura is a hilly province in the northeastern region of India and a multinational
country. Tripura was a monarchy under a monarchy. Tripura was annexed by the
Indian Union in 1949.
 Bhil
 Bhutia
 Chaimal
 Chakma
 Halam
 Khasia
 Lushai
 Mizel
 Namte
14. CONCLUSION
From this activity we have learned different patterns of housing construction adopted
by the local tribes of northern east of India. And how beautifully they have used local
materials for there for day to day activities.There houses were climate responsive
15. BIBLIOGRAPHY
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhutia
https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/bitstream/id/636797/bot_1995_01_18.pdf/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lepcha_people
,https://www.researchgate.net/publication/310512330_Traditional_uses_and_conserva
tive_lifestyle_of_Lepcha_tribe_through_sustainable_bioresource_utilization_-
_Case_studies_from_Darjeeling_and_north_Sikkim_India
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limbu_people
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamang_people
https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/JIE/article/view/27720/22904
http://www.iosrjournals.org/iosr-jhss/papers/Vol7-issue4/J0745872.pdf
https://www.utsavpedia.com/attires/khasi-garo-jaintia-mikir-meghalaya-tribes/
https://www.indianetzone.com/82/traditional_dress_jaintia_tribe.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garo_people#:~:text=The%20Garos%20are%20an
%20indigenous,A%C2%B7chik%20Mande%20(literally%20%22
https://www.slideshare.net/SonakshiBhattacharjee/vernacular-architecture-of-north-
east-india
http://westgarohills.gov.in/culture.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pnar_people
https://ribhoi.gov.in/history-culture/
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/285640565_Culture_and_ethnobotany_of_Ja
intia_tribal_community_of_Meghalaya_Northeast_India_-_a_mini_review
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koch_people
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajbongshi_people
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hajong_people
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TRIBES AND THEIR

GUIDED BY- SUBMITTED BY-

2. AIM AND OBJECTIVE

3. SCOPE AND LIMITATION

Figure 1: Map of North-Eastern India

Figure 2: Map of Arunachal Pradesh

6.2. TYPE OF TRIBES

Figure 3: Traditional Dress of Nyishi Tribe

6.3.4. CULTURE AND RELIGION

6.5. GOLA TRIBE

Figure 6: Housing for Gola Tribe

6.6. MISHMI TRIBE

7.2. TYPE OF TRIBES

7.3. BODO TRIBE

7.4. RABHA TRIBE

Figure 8: Housing for Rabha Tribe

7.5. DEORI TRIBE

Figure 9: Housing for Deori Tribe

8.3. MEITEI TRIBE

Figure 10: Housing for Meitei Tribe

8.4. AIMOL TRIBE

8.5. GANGTE TRIBE

9.3. GARO TRIBE

Figure 11: Housing for Garo Tribe

Figure 12: Housing for Khasi Tribe

Figure 12: Housing for Hajong Tribe

Figure 12: Housing for Lakher Tribe

10.6. HMAR TRIBE

11.3.5. RELIGION AND CULTURE

Figure 14: Housing for Angami Tribe

Figure 15: Housing for Sema Tribe

Figure 16: Housing for Bhutia Tribe

Figure 17: Housing for Lepcha Tribe

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