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THE TAI KHAMYUNG TRIBE AND ITS SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL LIFE WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO POWAI MUKH VILLAGE

INTRODUCTION
Since time immemorial in North-East in general and Assam in particular has been the habitat of numerous tribes with diverse shades of religion, language and culture. It may be mentioned that within the political boundary of Assam there are as many 23 tribes and out of them 9 lives in plains and the rest lives in the hills. One of such tribes is the Tai Khamyung tribe living in different parts of Assam as well as its surrounding and adjoining states more particularly in Arunachal Pradesh.

In this paper an attempt has been made to trace the historical background and socio-economic and cultural aspects of the Tai Khamyung tribe of Tinsukia District of Assam. The Khamyung community is a small group of tribe who are the descendant of Mongoloid family. They are the indigenous and original inhabitants of Assam who were migrated from Hooking Valley of Eastern China in the Pre-Christ era “Khunlung and Khunlai descended from heaven with their followers by an iron and golden chain in the year 568 A.D. and alighted in the country of Mongrimongram (Mounghe-Moungham) where the Thais or Shans dwelt without a king” (A history of Assam by Edward Gait)

When the Khamtis captured the Sadiya Kuth (canton) of the British by killing Colonel White in 1839, most of the Khamyung people living in Sadiya crossed the river Brahmaputra to settle at Khanikar and Jakai near present Dibrugarh District. They lived there for nearly eighty years. After that in 1922 they left these places to settle at Powai Mukh Village in Margherita Sub Division by establishing a village. This village is 12 KMs from NH 38. The population of the village is 249 of 44 households.

OBJECTIVE
The major objective for which the paper is devoted is to trace the historical background of this tribe as well as to find out cultural, religious, socio-economic traditions and customs, food habits and other aspects of this tribe. To live in Hon-Hung (house made of bamboo) is an ethnic characteristic of the Tai Khamyung people. The houses are constructed in north south direction with the front heading towards the south. Besides, wide spacious TOUP in the front a Hung is made with bamboo at a depth of 1 ft. from the height of Chung for sitting purpose. Every household has one or two Tee Fai (Hearths) if necessary. Every Tai Khamyung household has a Granary (Storage house for crops) in north south direction. The FI- Lamb (Foundation Post) of the house erected by Tai Khamyung has a religious significance. It is worshiped like a God and believed that it will protect the household from evil forces. They enter the new house at an auspicious moment i.e. the afternoon or evening.

RELIGION AND RELIGIOUS BELIEFS
Generally the religion of the Khamyung tribe is Buddhism. They worship Lord Buddha. They have been celebrating Poi-Sang-Ken (A kind of festival). They also observe Buddha Purnima, Mai-Ku-Sung-Fai, Son-Khan (observe during illness or fear), Pum-Fai etc. They still remember their traditional religious belief and practices.

DRESSES AND ORNAMENTS
The Khamyung have their traditional dresses and ornaments. The Khamyung women wear woven dresses. They make Fa-Lung (Lungi), Fa-Loi (Churia), Pok-Kho (piece of cloth wrapped round the head), Sin (Mekhela), Sai-Kap (Belt), Long-Wat (Riha), Fa-Mai (Chadar), Fa-Sat (Gamusa) etc. Tai Khamyung men wear Fa-Lung, Fa-Loi, Pok-Khou as their outfit. Now traditional Khamyung young lady wear indigenously made black cloured Sin, Sai-Kap on the waist and Sou (Full length blouse). The Khamyung daughters-in-law and daughters wear golden or silver made Kat-Kow on their Buns, Ban-Kung on their wrists, Poi-Kham (A kind of necklace) on their neck, ring in theirs fingers and ear-rings on their ears.

Published By :Chow Nao Ho Chawsong NOTES AND REFERENCES:- (1)Dr. Grierson G A “The History of Tai And Their Languages” (2)Sir Gait Edward, “A History of Assam” (3)Dr. Gogoi Lila, “Tai Sanskritir Rup-rekha” (4)Chu Valentin, “Thailand Today” (5)Tai Khamyung Buranji Pranayan Sammittee, “Tai Khamyung Buranji”