TRIBALS OF TRIPURA

CHAKMA
   

The Chakmas came to Tripura years back, though the exact time can not 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 original place from where they came to settle in Bangladesh in the Chittagong Hill Tracts or in Tripura could not be established. Some have attributed Arakan as their original home and some have referred to Bhagalpurf present Bihar state.Presently they are scattered over, Bangladesh, Tripura, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh. They have moved from one place to another. But they maintained their own customs and rituals.

Historian Hutchisom has included the Chakma in the Arayan stock of people. Therefore, their language is also different from the language of other tribes of Tripura. Generally they are Buddhists. Still some traits of Hinduism can be traced in their socio religious practices. Some of them have been worshippers of Shiva and Kali. Moreover, they perform sacrifice to entertain the goddess of water and other spirits. All socio religious festivals are celebrated with pomp and enthusiasm..


MAG
 

In Tripura Mags are scattered over South and Dhalai District. Like other tribes their earlier abode was not Tripura. But it also can not be established for sure that which place was the original home of Mags. Some authors have claimed that the Mags are off springs of Arakaness, Burmese and Chinese stock. That may be the reason that they are mixed tribe. It has also been assumed that the word Mag has come from Magadh in Bihar state. They embraced the word when they shifted from Magadh to Arakan.

 

But it is for sure that Mags living in Sabroom or Belonia Sub-divisions of Tripura had migrated form Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh where still an impressive number of Mag population is living. The Mags of Tripura speak the language of Arakan. The Mags are followers of Buddhism. However, their concept is different from the Tibbetans cult. The Mag are also ridden with certain am. They ount of superstition. They assume illness of anybody as an effect of evil spirit. To pacify these spirits they offer different food items.

MUNDA
 

Historians are of the view that the Munda tribes have originated from Koal living in Bindhya Parvat. Most Mundas are now found in Bihar. They have many similarities with Santhals. Despite being agriculturists they have good hands in hunting. Cultural life of Mundas resembles that of Santhals. Munda boys and girls perform song and dance in the villages. Three festivals they celebrate every year are Jadur,Lasur and Gena. They choose these occasions to perform dance and also perform Jhumurdance.Yatra ( open theatre ) is another popular item of recreation among the Mundas.They celebrate Dolpurnima with much fanfair when the Munda boys go out for hunting in the night.They mignated to Tripura mainly a tea garden workers.

GARO
 

Garos are one of the tribes who came to live in Tripura at a later time. Their population in Tripura was 7311 after 1981 census. Bigger chunk of Garos are found in Garo Hill area of Meghalaya. According to their mythology, the Garos came from Tibbet to settle down in Garo Hills. But there is no historical document, which can establish any link between the Garos and the Tibbetans. Some ethnologists have opined that the language of the Garos is one of the Tibbetan- Burmese linguistic groups. On the other hand some ethnologists have preferred to relate them with the Khasis. Over the time they embrassed many socio-religious customs of Tripura tribes making them different from Garos of Meghalaya. They live in Agartala, Kamalpur, Kailashahar, Udaipur and Amarpur Sub division.

LUSHAI
 

Lushais are a sub-tribe of MiZo tribe. Other sub-tribes are known as Rahlte and Hmar. These sub-tribes are further divided into several groups. As such 'Rukhm Sail and Hownar are included in the Lusai sub-tribe. All those who lived in then Lushai Hill(present Mizo Hill) have been identified as Mizo. Those people got scattered later in different states. In Tripura they have been recognised as a separate tribal community. The Lusais of Tripura live in Jampui Hills.

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