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Naga Tribes
The Naga society is matrilineal. A family is the true social
unit. The married son lives separately and establishers his
own house with his wife and unmarried children. The married daughters
are not sent to the house where they are married. Eldest member in the
house performs the religious rites to the domestic gods.
They observe exogamy within the tribal clans and endogamy in the Naga
group. In every Tankhul village there are two village seniors, Khullakpa
and the Luplakpa.
They maintain administration . The authority is of religious origin.
There are separate clubs for women and girls. The unmarried women
sleep in women's club and the unmarried boys sleep in men's club.
The women are not allowed to visit boy's clubs. The patrileneal
society has got male predominance in domestic affairs. The
unmarried girl is not allowed to eat flesh of male animals. The food
taboo is also imposed on her while she attains puberty. Men use
nicotine but women are not allowed. The male element is permanent
and a woman after marriage is considered ex-hypothetic.
The society considers that each boy and girl has a social
responsibility on attaining certain age. For girls it is fourteen years.
Physical maturity is thus considered an important requirement to
make them socially responsible and at attaining the proper age they
are married. Naga society feels that marriage is a bond and it is an obligation
which has to be performed in the right way. They believe that marriage
confers one woman the right to enter the clan of her husband. The female club called Morung Ghar is visited by the young boys
at night are not common now but boys and girls get chance to meet one another on
occasions like festivals, ceremonies etc. Exogamy is observed by all groups.
Those who break the rule are punished .The bride price varies
according to the status of the husband, the girl's clan and the village.
There is no restriction on remarriage of widows may marry the deceased husband's
brother but it is not a rule. Divorce is not common. Polyandry is no custom. The eldest son inherit double the share of the father's immovable
property and equal share of movable property. Women do not share the immovable
property. Murder in a clan is rare, though a clan feud may some times result in
murder. Disputes are settled by the elders in the village. Self-ordeals
like plunging into the water pool and staying longest there, Oath
taking by touching tiger's teeth on Dao and some verbal oaths are common.
Chirus swear by the sun. In marings oath is taken near the
circle of stones collected in the village. Head-hunting was very distinctively
prevalent in Nagas. In many houses the collection of skulls of
the victims displayed as trophies of powers can be seen. Now this custom is not practiced
by any group of Naga tribes. They earn their living by hunting and fishing. |
