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Chakma
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The
Chakma came to Tripura years back, though the exact time
cannot be found out. Still major portion of Chakma
population is living in
Bangladesh
. The history of Chakmas is as varied as the opinions of
different authorities and the orginal place from where
they came to settle in
Bangladesh
in the Chittagong Hill Tracts or in Tripura could not be
astablished. Some have attributed Arakan as their
orginal home and some have referred to
Bhagalpur
of present
Bihar
state. Whatever be the orginal home of Chakmas,
presently they are scattered over
Bangladesh
, Tripura, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh. In a way they
have moved from one place to another. In Tripura,
concentrate in Kailashahar, Kanchanpur,
Langtharai
Valley
, Gandachhera and Amarpur subdivisions. In considerable
number they are found in Sadar subdivision also.
Basically the Chakmas belong to the Mongoloid group of
people. But their language has been influenced by the
Aryan language to a great extent.
Generally
they are Buddhist. But some traits of animism can bo
found in their rites and rituals. Like alongwith
Buddhist religious practices they also perform sacrifice
to entertain the goddess aof water and other spirits.
All socio-relegious festivals are celebrated with pomp
and anthusiasm. |
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Mog |
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In
Tripura Mogs are scattered over South and Dhalai
District. Like many other tribes original abode was not
Tripura. But it also cannot be established for sure
about the original home of Mogs. Some authors have
claimed that the Mogs are offsprings of Arakanes,
Burmese and Chinese. That may be the reason that they
are ‘mixed tribe’. It has also been assumed that the
word ‘Mog’ has come from Magadh in
Bihar
State
. They embraced the word when migrated from Chittagong
Hill Tracts of
Bangladesh
where still an impressive number of Mog population is
living. The Mogs of Tripura speak the language of Arakan
and mailly found in Sabroom, Belonia, Amarpur,
Gandachhera and Kamalpur.
They are followers of Buddhism. However, their concept
is different from the Tibetan’s cult. They erect big
temples and engage priests to maintain them. The
villagers provide the priests with orcheous clothes.
Images of Buddha is installed in the temple. The Mags
are also ridden with certain amount of superstition.
They assume illness as an effect of evil spirit. To
pacify these spirits different food items are offered to
the spirits |
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Garu
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Garus
are one of the tribes who came to live in Tripura at a
later time. Their population in Tripura was 7311 in 1981
census. Bigger chunk of Garus are found in Garu Hill
area of Meghalaya. According to their mythology, the
Garus came from
Tibet
to settle down in Garo Hills. But there is no historical
documents, which can establish any link between the
Garus and the Tibetans. Some ethnologists have preferred
to relate them with the Khasias.
There
has been some influence of the Tripuris on the Garus
living in Tripura. That is why there may be some
difference in the context of socio-religious customs,
between the Garus of Tripura and those of Meghalaya. In
the state, they are found in lesser number. Garu
habitations are in Belonia, Bishalgarh, Kamalpur and
Sadar subdivisions
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Lusai
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Lushai
is one of the nineteen tribes of Tripura. They do not
identify themselves as Lushais but as Mizos. The Lushai
population concentrates in Jampai tlang(Range) of North
Tripura District. Sakhan tlang was also the abode of the
Lushais till January, 1998. They belong to the Kuki Chin
of the Tibeto-Burman group. The Lushais of Tripura are
immigrants from Mizoram.
All the Lushais are now Christians. So, their
traditional festivals are no longer observed nor those
have any relevance in their daily life today.
The Lushais have quite a number of dances. Some of their
popular dances are stated here. |
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Halam
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Though
the Halams have been given the status of an independent
community they are reported to have hailed from the
Kukis. Scholars have given different opinions on the
original home land of the Halams. It is also said that
the Kukis lived in Tripura even before the Tripuris came
to conquer this land. And those Kukis who had submitted
to the Tripuris came to be known as Halam. Originally,
the Halams were divided into 12 sub-groups but in course
of time they have further split and now they have as
many as 16 clans which is knownat present as Halam
community. In Tripura, Halams mainly live in
Udaipur
,Amarpur, Sadar, Khowai, Sonamura Kamalpur, Kailashahar
and Dharmanagar. |
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