Tribe of India : Garo Tribe

 

Garo people prefer the names "A'chik" and "Mande." The Garos believe they are descended from a common ancestor, although experts believe they originated in Tibet. The Garos are Mongoloid in origin. The Garos are happy, peace-loving, and welcoming by nature. Their way of life revolves around food, music, and dance.

Garo tribes are mostly found in Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Assam's Karbi Anglong, Goalpara, and Kamrup districts. They may also be found in West Bengal's Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, Bardhaman, and Dinajpur districts.

• Garo Tribes Origin

The Garos arrived in Meghalaya before 400 years, according to their history. They made their home in the Brahmaputra River Valley. Garrow and Mande are two dialects of the same language.

• Garo Tribes' Language

The Bodo branch of the Sino-Tibetan phylum's Bodo-Naga-Kachin family includes the Garo language. Customs, traditions, and beliefs are passed down verbally because the Garo language is not customarily written down. It's also thought that the written language perished on the journey to the present-day Garo Hills. The Garo language is divided into numerous divisions that are spoken by Garos in India and overseas. Chibok, Megam, Matabeng, Ruga, Achik, Ganching, Abeng, Atong, Dual, Matchi, and Gara are the subgroups of Garo languages. Rava, Kok-Borok, Boro-Kachari, and Dimasa are some of the languages that are similar to Garo.

• Garo Tribes Society

The Garo tribes practise a matrilocal and matrilineal society. The mother is the judge of decency and inheritance. Women have a greater social rank than men. The Garo society values community property ownership. Aure, Chisak, Matchi-Dual, Metabeng, Ateng, Chibok, Ruga, Gara-Ganching, Megham, Dussani, and Cheani are some of the linguistic and cultural groupings of the Garo tribe. The usual rule is monogamy, however polygamy is permitted.

Women have always been excluded from village government. Among them, widow remarriage is common. The female members of the family have the right of inheritance among the Garos. Inter-caste marriage is frowned upon in Garo society. Among the Garos, there is a youth dormitory called as 'Nokpanthes.'

• Garo Tribes' Occupation

During harvest, the Garo tribe's major profession is jhum farming. Agriculture and farming are the Garo tribes' main sources of income. This region's slopes are exclusively appropriate for Jhum farming. The crops planted include paddy, cotton, maize, millet, and legumes.

• Garo Tribes Religion

A large portion of the Garo population practises Baptism and Roman Catholicism. Almost all of the ceremonies linked with this religion are observed by the Garo tribes. The majority of these Garo tribes are 'Seventh-day Adventists, Anglicans,' while the others are members of newly created 'denominations.' Several Garo tribes still adhere to traditional Animist-Hindu rules and rituals, as do the majority of the region's tribes.

• Garo Tribal Dances

Music and dancing are particularly important to the Garo people. Their dances fall into two categories: 'Santalo Chroka' and 'Abani Kamrangko Mesokanirang.' The Garo tribes' dance genres include Mi Sua, Koch, Napsepgrika, Kambe Toa, Rabha, Gaewang Roa, Ajema Roa, Chambil Moa, Dokru Sua, and others. Chordophone, Aerophone, Idiophones, and Membranophone are among the musical instruments used by the Garos.

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References:

South West Garo Hills District

Garo (A-chik Mande) in India people group profile | Joshua Project