Khasi

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Khasi
Total population

1,283,000
Regions with significant populations
Meghalaya (India): 1,250,000
Assam (India): 29,000
West Bengal, Mizoram, Maharashtra, Tripura, Tamil Nadu, Arunachal Pradesh, Nicobar Islands (India): 3100
Languages
Khasi, Hindi and other Indian languages
Religions
Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Hindu or Tribals with animistic elements
Related ethnic groups
Khmers, Palaungs, Was, Kinh, Nicobarese and other Mon-Khmers

The Khasi are a tribe in Meghalaya, India and in parts of Bangladesh, who call themselves Hynniew trep (which means "the seven huts" in the Khasi language). Their language is also called Khasi. They comprise almost fifty percent of the population of Meghalaya, the remainder of whom are mostly Garo. Most Khasi are Presbyterian, Anglican, Roman Catholic, or followers of the original Khasi religion Ka Niam Tynrai, although there is a tiny Unitarian presence, as well. Some Khasi reside in the hilly areas of Sylhet, Bangladesh. The Khasi tribes are usually dependent upon jhoom cultivation in which the vegetation is left to grow totally under the care of nature. In Bangladesh, one of the main products produced by the Khasi using jhoom cultivation is betel leaf.

Contents

[edit] Residences

The Khasis mainly reside in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills in the state of Meghalaya. The Khasis inhabit the Khasi Hills proper, and the Syntengs, or Pnars, the Jaintia Hills. The Lynngams inhabit the western portion of the Khasi Hills proper. The people known as Bhois live in the low hills to the north and north-east of the district. The Wars inhabit the precipitous slopes and deep valleys to the south of the district.[1]

[edit] Physical variation

A Khasi man
A Khasi man

Khasi from different regions have small, but noted differences. They are descendants of Mon-Khmer speakers who migrated probably from Yunnan to Meghalaya, and thus they are of East Asian origin. Most Khasi have brown to light yellow skin, epicanthic folds, high nasal bridges and aquiline noses, but it is not uncommon for a group of Khasi to have looks ranging from those of typical East Asians to those of typical Central Asians or Persians. The Khasi are a relatively early and isolated branch of Mon-Khmer people and they have preserved features common to Nicobarese and Yunnanese. They are similar in appearance to their northern Mon-Khmer relatives, most notably the Palaung and Wa.

[edit] Dress

The traditional Khasi male dress is Jymphong or a longish sleeveless coat without collar, fastened by thongs in front. Now, the Khasis have adopted the western dress. On ceremonial occasions, they appear in ‘Jymphong’ and dhoti with an ornamental waist-band.

The Khasi traditional female dress is called a jainsem or a dhara, which are rather elaborate with several pieces of cloth, giving the body a cylindrical shape. On ceremonial occasions, they wear a crown of silver or gold on the head. A spike or peak is fixed to the back of the crown, corresponding to the feathers worn by the menfolk. The Jainsem consists of two pieces of material fastened at each shoulder. The Dhara consists of a single piece of material also fastened at each shoulder.

[edit] Social structure

The Khasis have a matrilineal and Matriarchal society [2] [3].Descent is traced through the mother, but the father plays an important role in the material, mental life of the family and social welfare. According to Khasi laws, a woman cannot be forced into marriage, she owns the children and properties.In Khasi tradition, the youngest daughter will also inherit the property. A woman may end a marriage at her will with no objection from her husband. The Khasi have an unusual dedication toward matrilineal customs, most notably similar to the Minangkabaus. Khasis are also fond of dancing and singing.

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Khasis — Peter Gurdon
  2. ^ Hussain, Seema (1999). The Week, India. The Week, India, 181. 
  3. ^ Ahmed, Syed (1994). What do men want. New York Times, 5. 

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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