The Maring tribe: Culture and lifestyle

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, a Maring.1

Authorship

Text: Maring Uparup Assembly ( MUA)

Project coordinators: Parhai Kothil, Pastor Ezekiel Keisha, Khullak Mokhulshim, Larung Koin Dangshawa, Kansam Moran Kleya and Dangsawa Moran Maring.

Photographs: Rashingam Ngoruh and Ramesh Angom.

Design concept: Muidou Makunga

Indpaedia conversion: Parvez Dewan

LANGUAGE

According to the reports of Dr. G. A. Grierson in his book “Linguistic Survey of India,”

the Maring language/dialect falls in the family of Tibeto-Burman languages, which comes under the sub-group of Naga-Kuki languages. These sub-group languages are Sopvoma (Mao-Maram), Miyangkhang (Thangal), Koireng (Kolren/Liyang), Luhuppa or Luppa (i.e.Tangkhul and Maring languages). Out of these sub-group languages, the three languages such as Sopvoma (Mao¬ Maram), Tangkhul and Maring exhibit a regular gradation in the change of speech. Sopvoma (Mao-Maram) is most nearly connected with the Western-Naga language, and the Maring with the Kuki ones, while Tangkhul occupies an intermediate position.2*

(2* Dr.G.A.Grierson, C.I.E. (Director of Linguistic Survey of India). “A Report of the Linguistic Survey of India, Vol. III. Part ii, 1903, p. 451.)

But culturally the Marings are quite different from the Kukies with regard to the names of persons; names of clans; marriage laws/customs; village administrations; social norms, way of house constructions and village forms; cultural festivals; dances & dresses (men wearing of long hairs with murshom/coifer/turbans on the forehead); songs & lyrics; food habits and way of living; tools & weapons; form of village; having common grave yards out-side the village gates; burials & its rituals, etc.

NUMBERS

COUNTING OF NUMBERS

Maring Numerals English

Khat 1 One

Khní 2 Two

Khyum 3 Three

Phali 4 Four

Phangā 5 Five

Thruk 6 Six

Ení 7 Seven

Chot 8 Eight

Tȧkõ 9 Nine

Chip 10 Ten

Chiple Khat 11 Eleven

Chiple Khní 12 Twelve

Chiple Khyum 13 Thirteen

Chiple Phali 14 Fourteen

Chiple Phanga 15 Fifteen

Chiple Thruk 16 Sixteen

Chiple Ení 17 Seventeen

Chiple chot 18 Eighteen

Chiple tȧkõ 19 Nineteen

Sömni 20 Twenty

Sömthum 30 Thirty

Somli 40 Forty

Somnga 50 Fifty

Somruk 60 Sixty

Somret 70 Seventy

Samshree 80 Eighty

Somko 90 Ninety

Machā 100 One hundred

Lishlng Khat 1,000 One thousand

Lishlngchip 10,000 Ten thousand

Lakh Khat 1,00,000 One Lakh

Lakhchip 10,00,000 Ten Lakhs

METHODS OF RECKONING TIME

The method of reckoning time by Marings is based on the lunar calendar in relation to agriculture. Days are counting from sunrise to sunset. The system of division of a week is called tãnglā tlunpûl khat (haptā) in Maring. And months are calculated in relation to the shape of the moon. From a new moon to the next new moon is called one month (tãnglā tlunkhat). These months are given names accordingly in connection with their agricultural activities. Years are also counted from the starting of a new agricultural operation till the next operation is considered as one year (kum khat), and the seasons are calculated in terms of climatic changes such as dry, rainy, cold, and warm. The following are the name of days, months and seasons:

NAMES OF DAYS

1. Kaani : Monday

2. Phunni : Tuesday

3. Shāni : Wednesday

4. Seelni : Thursday

5. Limni : Friday

6. Teenni : Saturday

7. Cherni : Sunday

NAMES OF MONTHS

1. Kumkā : January

2. Kumsā : February

3. Matrao : March

4. Súnnā : April

5. Phulwā : May

6. Thúnmā : June

7. Marwan : July

8. Kulkā : August

9. Manchuan : September

10. Kumthil : October

11. Bilwā : November

12. Mayun : December

NAMES OF SEASONS

1. Manthrāl : Summer Season

2. Nungchur : Rainy Season

3. Sowãng : Spring Season

4. Phalbi : Winter Season

DIRECTIONS

ENGLISH MARING

1. North =Khalu

2. South =Khatte

3. East =Kulkung

4. West =Kulrel

Words related to the weather

1. Temperature =Ngetlum

2. Weather =Tlairei (lherei)

3. Climate =Ramlhim

4. Season =Kumpār

5. Year =Kum (kumchān)

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS OF THE MARINGS

The people of Marings were fond of indigenous musics and folk songs associated with their social and community life. ‘Without music and songs, the life of the Marings is void and meaningless. In every occasion such as community festivals, any ceremonies and functions of the village, or even at the time of marriage engagements (nû-kngai) and at the funerals, the songs are sung with the musical instruments like phúngtàng (log drum), dār (metal gong), pẽngkũl (bamboo trumpet), paasi (bamboo flute), halchee tíngkung(mithun-horn), taari (harp), toutlí (small bamboo flute), tonsí (metal bells), khring-khring (bamboo piece mouth instrument), etc.

See also

The Maring tribe: Culture and lifestyle <> The Maring tribe: Customs and beliefs <> The Maring tribe: Economy <> The Maring tribe: History <> The Maring tribe: Laws and administration <> The Maring tribe: Society and polity <>The Maring tribe: Sports and pastimes …all in English;

and

Maring: Lei Chuinei Lammit/Ayil (Nu-Kungnei Ayil) and Maring: Nu-Ngainei Làmmit/Ayil in the Maring language (Roman script).