SOME TRADITIONAL RITUALS OF BIRTH, DEATH AND SHAMANIC CEREMONY CELEBRATED BY MAN TAI-TURUNG COMMUNITY OF ASSAM

Abstract

The Turung Ethnic Community is one of the smallest tribal groups inhabiting in Assam. They are known for their unique customs, rituals, cultures and traditions. They are recognised as “Man (Tai-Speaking)” in “Amendments to the Constituition (Scheduled Tribes) Order 1950. In the Upper Assam’s non-autonomous districts of Golaghat, Jorhat and autonomous district- East Karbi-Anglong, “Turung” people have been living since centuries. The “Turung” community is one of the organs of Six Tai groups of Assam (Tai-Ahom, Tai-Aiton, Tai-Phake, Tai-Khamyang and Tai-Khamti). The “Turung” community lived for centuries on the bank of “Tarung Hka” in the Kachin state of Upper Burma and present-day Myanmar. Owing to some personal and political conflict, they migrated to modern-day north-east India. According to written history, they once lived in “Mung Mao Khawchang”. Later, during the last phase of 15th century they migrated to Sadiya by crossing Patkai Hills and stayed briefly in Tapha. Eventually, they were brought to “Jorhat Mission Compound” by a British officer Captain Neuvile in the year 1825. And as stated by 1891 census, total number of “Turung” population was 301 at that time. Through this paper some traditional rituals of birth and death ceremony of Tai-Turung Community is explored and discussed in a detail way.