North east India is filled with breath taking view .These
hilly terrains has more than what meets the eye.The unexplored terrains
concealed away by impenetrable forests and formidable mountain ranges have
stories hidden deep within its trails.
Here’s a list of few such startling secrets of the Northeast
India that you may have not known about.
1: Home Of The Last Surviving Headhunters
Even though you won’t witness a head hunter nowadaybut if
you want to know more about the culture and history of the head hunters
Nagaland is the place to be.Even if the Naga headhunting stopped back in 1940s
you can still spot many elders of the Konyak tribe with tattooed faces, meaning
they’re from the headhunting clans. Killing and severing an enemy’s head was
considered a rite of passage for young boys and this triumph was rewarded with
a prestigious facial tattoo.
2: Matriarchal Societies of India in Meghalaya
The Khasi and the Garo tribes of Meghalaya are one of the
few societies in the world that follows a Matrilineal system where women are
supposed to shoulder the responsibility of the household and as seen in a lot
of cases, the one who does the hard labour to earn a living for the family. Men
takes the back seat here and are largely seen to assist the women in key matters!
3: The Ambubachi Mela and the 3 Days when Goddess Shakti
is not worshiped!
Ambubachi Mela is an annual Hindu fair held at the Kamakhya
temple of Assam. During the monsoon season around mid-June it is believed that
Goddess Kamakhya goes into her yearly menstruation course. For a period of three consecutive days at this time all
temples dedicated to Goddesses across Assam remains shut. In fact prayer rooms
in the private residences of people in Assam are kept closed and covered to
allow the Goddess to rest. Hoards of people, sadhus, aghoris, sanyasis and the
Baul or singing minstrels gathers in Kamakhya temple to celebrate the Ambubachi
mela.
4: Sanctuary of the Exotic and the Endangered
The northeastern region of India with its rich biodiversity
is home to some of the most globally threatened species. The list is long,
however some of them are: Red Panda, One Horned Rhinos, Golden Langurs, Sangai
(brow antlered deer of Manipur), Hoolock Gibbons, Hornbills, Clouded Leopard,
Gayal, Roofed Turtle and many more.
5: Shops Without Shopkeepers in Mizoram!
Around 65 km from the capital of Mizoram, Aizawl along the
highway of Seling you can spot these tiny vegetable stalls- Nghah lou dawr
meaning shops without shopkeepers. You will find the price list right there
along with a deposit box where you can leave the money and take what you paid
for. And yes, people usually do leave the prices of what they take. This is
indeed an act of trust and empathy rarely seen in this world.
6: Endless locally brewed Liquor of the endemic
tribes
Apung in Arunachal, Bodo alcoholic beverage Zou, Xaz of
Assam, Apong of the Mishing tribe, Chuwarak the Tripuri liquor, Judima of the
Dimasa people, Kiaad in Meghalaya, Zutho of the Nagamese, Mizo Zawlaidi, Hot
Sikkimese beer- Kodo ko Jaanr, Sekmai Yu in Manipur, Raksi – another Sikkimese
drink: An unending list of various alcoholic beverages of the Northeastern
tribes. These could just be the reason for you to explore every nook and cranny
of Northeast India.
7: The most complex maze: Secret Tunnels of Talatal
Ghar!
Talatal Ghar was built by the Ahom kings of Assam as an army
base in erstwhile ‘Rongpur’, today Sibsagar. It consists of two secret tunnels
and three floors below ground level. These floors were used as exit routes
during the battles of the Ahoms. Overall the structure has seven floor and
the secret tunnels which are restricted to visitors now. Apparently, some
people who went in never returned.
8: The River Islands Of Assam; Both The Largest And The
Smallest
Assam is home to arguably Asia’s largest river island,
Majuli, but did you know that the world’s smallest river island is also located
in Assam? Umananda Island or Peacock Island is considered to be world’s
smallest inhabited island right in the middle of river Brahmaputra, at an
accessible distance from the river banks of Guwahati. An ancient fabled Shiva
temple built by the Ahom kingdom is primary attraction in the island. Spotting
a golden langur also wouldn’t be a surprising.
9: First place in Asia to be drilled for Oil
Digboi is a prosperous little town in Assam, dotted with
numerous unique bungalows, is the first place in Asia where oil drilling
started in the year 1901. There is an Oil Museum here that tells the history of
the town maintained by Indian Oil Corporation. Another fascinating thing about
this place is the World War II Cemetery ground of the Europeans deployed here
for joint operation with Chinese and Americans under General Stilwell.
10: Their eternal Love for Nature
A tiny community of Mawphlang in Meghalaya are protecting
the watersheds and biodiversity by revitalizing their traditional institutions
and culture. This tribal community is now set to be country’s first REDD pilot
(Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and (forest) Degradation).
Vestiges of megaliths are scattered all over the Jaintia
hills and the entire Mawphlang forest. The clans that founded the village
erected hundreds of menhirs and dolmens.
Keywords: Assamese news paper Khabar, Assamese Daily
Newspaper, Assamese Newspaper Online, Online Assamese Paper, Dainik Janambhumi
Newspaper, Assamese Newspaper
