Abiding in the locale of Majuli, Dhemaji , Lakhimpur , Sonitpur , Tinsukia , Dibrugarh, Sibsagar , Jorhat and Golaghat of the Assam state in India, the 'Mishing' or 'Misíng' otherwise called 'Miri' clan is quite possibly the most bright clans of Assam with their exceptional way of living and culture. The total populace is more than 1 million in Assam yet there are additionally in excess of 50,000 Mishing, split between three regions: East Siang district, Lower Dibang Valley, and Lohit districts of Arunachal Pradesh.
The word 'Mishing' derives from the two word 'Mi' and 'Toshing'/'Anshing'. 'Mi' signifies 'man' while 'Anshing'/'Toshing' implies 'value' or 'cool'. So Mishing implies man of value. To portray non-ancestral outcasts (most likely the overall assamese people) the word 'Mipak' is used widely which means man of 'dishonor' or 'unworthiness . So Mipak is the contrary significance of Mishing.
The Mishing Community have their own unmistakable social conduct, living patterns, Socio-religious functions,dwellings, agriculture, language and dresses . They are simple and straightforward.
Population :
As per Census of India led in 2001, the number of inhabitants in Mising in Assam is tallied to 5,87,310; of which 2,99,790 male and 2,87,520 female. Literacy rates of Mising tribe is quite high. It is more than 78% among males and 59% among women averaging to be 68.8%, which is higher than that of Assam as well as India.
Legends says that they came into contact with more civilised communities living in plains of Assam as early as in the sixteenth century. Along these lines, they lost their tribal nature. This mass migration proceeded for somewhere around a few centuries. However There is no recorded history of Misings about their relocation from slopes to the fields of Assam but they have a place with Tani gathering of clans and they used to be hill tenants, they began living on the banks of streams in the fields of Assam. The reason for this change in territory is not known but there are many theories regarding this. One hypothesis says that Misings currently living in fields of Assam were not a one single clan, but rather developed into one when numerous clans from different Tani clans in Arunachal Pradesh moved to the fields of Assam looking for futile land as well as in search of civilisational progress. Throughout some stretch of time, they became referred to as Miris as they act as middle men between clans of hills of Arunachal Pradesh and people from the plains of Assam like Ahoms, Kacharis etc. 'Miri' implies 'middle men' in the old Assamese language. This clarifies the presence of numerous Mising factions with various Mising lingos just as various degrees of advancement.
Tribal culture and tradition:
The Mishing people have their own folk music, dance forms and instruments. The greater part of these are utilized or performed on their social and religious celebrations.
Music :
Mishings are extremely fond of music and melodies. There are various kinds of folk songs are there in Mising society; like 'Tebo Tekang' ,'Ahbang', 'Siuhlung Nitom','Kaban Bin' and 'Midang Nitom.'
Quite possibly the most well known folk songs of the Mishings is 'Oi Nitom'. Each line in an Oi-Nitom is of seven syllables. It has an assortment of subjects going from sentiment, humor, misfortune, and socio-cultural themes. It is sung by the Mishing young people when they are working or moving about the fields, woods, and so on . Oi Nitoms are sung during Mishing Sohman (dance).
"Adi jili jiliko, miksi jili jiliko, Adi jili pinyepe miksi jili pinpemang"
Instruments :
The Mishing tribe have a rich folk music. Aside from dumdum, lupi, lehnong, marbang, bali, and so on used in Gumrak dance and which are common to different local people, coming up next are the typical sort of conventional instruments played in Mising folk music: "ketpong tapung","gekre tapung","ezuk tapung", "derki tapung", "tumbo, tapung tutok tapung","dendun", "dumpak koreg", "gunggang", "tulung" etc. Apart from these there is a instrument call "Yoksa" (sword) that is used as a musical instrument by the priest during religious dance.
Ali Aye Ligang :
Ali implies roots and shoots, Aye implies Fruit and Ligang implies starting. Hence the words implies the beginning of sowing of seeds. Ali-Aye-Ligang, is celebrated in the first Wednesday of fagun month (Assamese Calendar), this date falls in the February month of the English schedule. The celebration denotes the start of the sowing season. Ali-Aye-Ligang is a five-day celebration. The festivals starts on a Wednesday, which is viewed as a favorable day by the Misings.
Youngsters and ladies praise the event by wearing splendidly shaded conventional ensembles, singing and dancing around evening time in the courtyard of every household in the village to the backup of drums, cymbals and a gong. The troupe acknowledges from every family offers of rice lager, fowls, as well as money. After the singing and dancing is finished, the youth hold gala and food items like "Poro Apong", "Nogin Apong", pork and dry fish are appreciated. A sort of tacky rice, stuffed in leaves of wild cardamom and bubbled, is an exceptional thing of food on such merry events known as "Purang".
Dance forms :
There are numerous types of dance forms in Mising community, like 'Gumrag,' Mibhu Dagnam', 'Lereli', 'Ejug Tapung Sohman' , 'Lotta Sohman','Selloi', 'Gumrak Sohman' etc. Each dance form has their specific principles. Drums are the typical instruments for the dances.
"Gumrag" is performed multiple times in circle (five times). "Mibu Dagnam" is a holy dance performed for the most part during Porag, the harvesting celebration, seen in the Murong, the local area corridor of the Mishings. The priest sings the "Ahbang" while playing out this custom dance. "Selloi" is a sort song and dance often performed for fun, usually performed for no particular reason, by little youngsters and young ladies with the backup of drums .Additionally "Lereli", "Ejug Tapung Sohman" , "Lotta Sohman" are various moves that are performed during various events and celebrations. The dance performed during Ali-Aye-Lrigang is called "Gumrak Sohman."
Weaving and Textiles :
The Mishing ladies are experts in weaving an assortment of wonderful garments having brilliant and energetic shadings. Splendid tones (typically dark and red) are common in the rich conventional dresses of the Mishings. Clothing types named ege, gaseng, rhibi, gero, seleng gasor, riya, nisek, segrek, and so on are woven.
Marriages :
Weddings are merry undertakings for the Mishing people group. Everybody, the youthful and old ones, partake and appreciate to their fullest.The Mishings follow the custom of 'Magbo-dugnam', where the future husband (would-be bridegroom)renders service in the place of his would-be bride. Mising people has three kinds of marriage - Da:ro Midang, Kumsu-jo:su and Dugla la:nam,which have their own highlights and fascinating ceremonies.
Religion :
Mishings are perhaps the most beautiful tribal group. Mishing has its own religion named Mishing faith. Donyi (Sun) is the divine force of Mishings. Mishing individuals believes that they are descendents of the Sun and the Moon. They worship 'Donyi Polo'. Donyi is the sun and Polo is the moon. However, presently, Mishing people follow Hinduism as well as worship Donyi Polo. Likewise, some of them have converted to Christianity.
Solidarity:
For the most part, they lead an exceptionally serene, simple and hygienic life. But the Mishing people stands apart for its adoration for tranquil living. One will not find any barriers among their houses in Villages . They are fun loving individuals and are always ready to welcome visitors.They will offer you a beverage call as 'Apong'(Rice-brew) which is made from rice. A little faint-green in colour. It is a typical practice to hold hands and welcome the visitors and offer them a bowl of rice beer in villages.
Social Structure:
The Misings believe 'Abotani' as their ancestor supposed to be a child of mother Sun and father Moon of the Heavenly abode. The Mising public occupying by the Plains believe 'Gumin' as perhaps the earliest predecessor, the progenitor of a lineal group of Abotani. The children of Gumin are grouped in factions (opin), the names of which are addressed by the current last names in the general public. They are all blood related siblings with a social limitation of wedding relationship among them. There is a type of division of Mising people into 'Barogam' and 'Dohgam', which was a managerial framework presented during Ahom Kingdom, is non-existent in the general public today.
The Opin(Clans) of Gumin are all blood related siblings known as Urom bibosunam Beerrang starting from a typical progenitor father and there is no limitation in offering prayers in the rituals in common platform generations together. There is an another type of brotherhood existing in the general public which has been customarily acknowledged as affiliated sibling or Tomeen sunam Beerrang from various opeen. In both kinds of Brotherhood marriage among themselves is taboo in the general public.
The community has various Clans as::
B-
Bori
D-
Dole:, Dao, Darig, Dáng
J-
Jimé
K-
Kuli, Kutum, Kumbang, Koman, Kardong
L-
Lagasung, Lo:ying
M-
Módi, Móyong, Méyi, Morang, Mekab, Mili, Médok, Misong
N-
Noroh
P-
Pangging, Pégu, Pérme:, Pértin, Pa:id, Pogag, Patir, Padi, Payeng, Payun, Pao, Pádun,
R-
Regon, Rátan
S-
Sungkrang, Sinte, Saro
T-
Tao, Taye, Taíd, Tayung
Y-
Yein
There are further Classification as Dagdung, Dagtok, Padam, Pagro, Oyan
TheOpin Urom Bibosunam Bírrang are related respectively as siblings with the Tomísunam Bírrangas Mentioned underneath:
Model: The Opin referenced above *1. Kuli, Kutum, Kumbang, Koman of Opin Urom Bibosunam Bírrang have affiliated brotherhood with ⇔ *1.Doley, Padi, Ratan, Regon, Like wise for the other in the listing.
Opin Urom Bibosunam Bírrang(Main Clan Brotherhood)
1. Kuli, Kutum, Kumbang, Koman.
2. Pegu
3. Doley
4. Pangging, Pogag, Noro, Sinte
5. Yein
6. Pa:id
7. Yirang
8. Mekob
9. Dao
10. Ra:tan
11. Noro
12. Taye
13. Pao
14. Regon
15. Dao
16. Kardong
17. Tao
18. Jimé
19. Tayeng
20. Panyang
Mising people reside in extremely fine and exceptionally lovely 'Chaang-ghar'.They always built their homes albeit a height from the land and they look very delightful and clean.
"Long Live the Mishing Community."
"Mishing rengam irroi!"
by: Bhargobee Nath
