DOCSLIB.ORG

Traditional Knowledge Associated with Numsing, an Ethnic Fish Product Prepared by Mising Tribes of Upper Assam, India

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Traditional Knowledge Associated with Numsing, an Ethnic Fish Product Prepared by Mising Tribes of Upper Assam, India Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 12 (1), January 2013, pp. 91-96 Traditional knowledge associated with numsing, an ethnic fish product prepared by Mising tribes of Upper Assam, India *AU Muzaddadi, 1RK Taye & 2BK Bhattacharjya *1College of Fisheries, Central Agricultural University, Lembucherra, Tripura 799210 India 2Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR), Regional Center, HOUSEFED Complex, Dispur, Guwahati 781006 India E-mail: [email protected] Received 29.03.12; revised 12.10.12 The common method of preparation of numsing, a traditional fish product developed by the Mising community of Assam and the traditional knowledge associated with it are discussed. Flame dried and smoked small economic fish species (Puntius spp., Amblypharyngodon sp., Lepidocephalus sp., Channa spp., Trichogaster (Colisa) spp., Danio spp., Mastacembelus spp., Mystus spp., Rasbora spp., etc.) and petioles of arum (Alocasia macrorrhiza) are ground together, packed in bamboo container and fermented for about 30 days to prepare the product. The complete process involves 11 distinct steps and the end product is preserved in the fermenting bamboo container itself by keeping it suspended over a fire place. It is consumed after steam cooking or after preparing some curry along with vegetables. Protein rich fish is balanced with carbohydrate content in the product, probably increasing the dietary fibre content as well, when it is supplemented with arum petioles. In addition, the product is the outcome of a wonderful traditional technology which combines three well established food processing techniques –drying, smoking and fermentation and also a compatible means of preserving fish for scares-fish seasons as a partial solution to protein malnutrition. Keywords: Assam, Dried fish, Fermented fish, Ethnic food, Mising, numsing, Smoked fish IPC Int. Cl.8: A23, A23B 4/00, A22, A22C, A01K, A01K 61/00 The Northeastern region of Indian is a treasure of bamboo) raised by 4-5 feet from the ground on an indigenous knowledge systems pertaining to average13. The process of numsing preparation agriculture, food, medicine, and natural resources involves 11 steps and the processed product is management1. The region has over 100 tribes and consumed as condiment with main dish after steam communities, each having their unique ethnic foods cooking or after preparing some curry along with developed through the ages. In recent years a number vegetables. This is a useful traditional method of of ethnic foods and food products traditionally processing small economic fish varieties abundantly prepared by different tribes/communities of the region available during the rainy season for consumption has been reported1-11 including fish products such as during winter and pre-monsoon months. In the present shidal/seedal6,5, ngari1,11, hentak1,11, and tungtap5,11. communication, we are describing the common method Although many fish based ethnic foods of the region of preparation of numsing together with the traditional have already been reported, numsing (a traditional knowledge system associated with the product. fish product popular among Mising community) is yet to be scientifically explored. The Misings are a Methodology Mongoloid tribe inhabiting the districts of Dhemaji, Adopting PRA (Participatory Rural Appraisal) North Lakhimpur, Sonitpur, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, method, an extensive field study was conducted in Sibsagar, Jorhat and Golaghat in Assam (plain area) Dhemaji and North Lakhimpur districts of Upper and East Siang, Lower Dibang Valley and Lohit Assam (Northeast bank of river Brahmaputra) (Fig. 1) districts of Arunachal Pradesh12. The Misings during 2011 in order to document the traditional traditionally live in thatched platform dwellings, with knowledge system associated with numsing stilted floor (usually constructed with split or flattened production. These two districts have highest Mising —————— population in Assam. Five Mising villages from each *Corresponding author district were surveyed and the persons actively 92 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 12, NO. 1 JANUARY 2013 Fig. 1—Map showing study area in Assam engaged in numsing production were interviewed after taking the PIC (Prior Informed Consent) from them in writing. The women were given priority for interview and documentation, since they usually prepare the product. From the many variations of the numsing preparation procedures adopted in the study Flow chart 1—The method of numsing preparation region, a common method of preparation of the with a height of 3-4 feet and having a fireplace at its product has been worked out after eliminating bottom. Fish are spread on it and heated with nearly a insignificant deviations having little bearing on the smokeless fire that is created by burning fire woods or finished product quality. In addition, the preparation dry bamboo at the fireplace mostly during night method of the product, the method of storage and hours. Drying and smoking is continued with mild methods of preparation of dishes by using the product flame until the fish become moderately hard. Arum were personally observed. petiole slices are sundried for 1 day. Observations Step 4. Mixing: The flame dried fish and sundried Method of preparation of numsing: Numsing is a arum petiole slices are mixed together in the ratio of semi dried and semi smoked paste like product prepared 4:1. Other spices such as red pepper, green chili, by mixing fish, petioles of arum and spices. ginger and garlic may also be used according to the The different steps (Flow chart 1) followed by the tribe taste. However, no salt is used. for preparation of the product, are briefly described: Step 5. Grinding: A foot operated elongated Step 1. Selection of raw material: Small traditional wooden grinder or huller (locally called economic fish species of assorted size abundantly dhekee) is used to grind the mixture. Dhekee is a available during the South-west monsoon season household apparatus in Assam that is usually used for (June-September) in the study region (Table 1) are hulling rice and grinding spices (Fig. 3). In used for preparation of the product together households that lack dhekee, a smaller hand operated with petioles of elephant ear or arum (Alocasia traditional wooden grinder/huller pot with a wooden macrorrhiza) belonging to the family Araceae, locally thrasher (uraal) (involves higher drudgery) is used for known as mana kasu (Fig. 2). It is a herbaceous grinding and mixing the ingredients (Fig. 4). Grinding perennial plant having broad leaves and a large continues until the mixture becomes coarse paste. rizhome on or just below the ground. Step 6. Stuffing: The ground mixture, which is by Step 2. Dressing and cleaning: The fish are now a coarse paste, is stuffed tightly in a bamboo dressed to remove gills, scales and intestine and container (bahor chunga) keeping headspace of about washed with clean water. The edible part of arum 10-15 cm for subsequent sealing. The container is a petioles is sorted out, peeled and sliced using kitchen single internode of immature bamboo (Bambusa spp., knife (kotaari). less than one year old) that is made by retaining one Step 3. Drying and smoking:. Fish are dried on a node and excluding the other (Fig. 5). These tubes also specially made bamboo rack. It is made using bamboo serve as the primary packaging material for the product. MUZADDADI et al.: NUMSING, A FISH PRODUCT OF MISING TRIBES IN ASSAM 93 Table 1—Small value fish used in numsing preparation English name Scientific name Common /Local name Normal size range (cm) Indian carplet Amblypharyngodon microlepis (Bleeker, 1853) Muwa 2-5 Mola carplet A. mola (Hamilton, 1822) Muwa 2-5 Aspidoparia Aspidoparia morar (Hamilton, 1822) Baralia 4-12 Spotted mural Channa punctatus (Hamilton, 1882) Goroi 5-20 Indian hatchet chela Chela cachius (Hamilton, 1822) Chelekona 3-6 Zebra danio Danio rerio (Hamilton, 1822) Dorikona 1-5 Giant danio Devario aequipinnatus (McClelland, 1839) Seldorikona 3-10 Flying barb Esomus danricus (Hamilton, 1822) Dorikona 3-10 Indian river shad Gudusia chapra (Hamilton, 1822) Koroti 5-15 Guntea loach Lepidocephalus guntea (Hamilton, 1822) Gutum/botia 2-15 Indian glass barb Laubuca laubuca (Hamilton, 1822) Laupati 5-15 Spotted spiny eel Macrognathus puncalus (Cuvier, 1832) Tora/turi 8-30 Peacock eel M. aral (Cuvier, 1832) Tora/turi 8-30 Bengala barb Megarasbora elanga (Hamilton, 1822) Eleng 5-15 Banded dwarf catfish Mystus vittatus (Hamilton, 1822) Singora/tingora 3-10 Swamp barb Puntius chola (Hamilton, 1822) Doloni puthi 2-5 Olive barb P. sarana (Valenciennes, 1842) Cheni puthi 3-8 Pool barb P. sophore (McClelland, 1839) Soru puthi 3-6 Two spot barb P. ticto (Hamilton, 1822) Tita puthi 3-8 Slender rasbora Rasbora daniconius (Hamilton, 1822) Dorikona 3-10 Gangetic scissortail rasbora R. rasbora (Hamilton, 1822) Dorikona 5-10 Finescale razorbelly minnow Salmophasia phulo (Hamilton, 1822) Selkona 4-12 Honey gourami Trichogaster chuna (Hamilton, 1822) Becha 3-7 Banded gourami T. fasciata (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) Kholihona 5-12 Thick lipped gourami T. labiosa (Day, 1877) Ranga kholihona 4-9 Dwarf gourami T. lalius (Hamilton, 1822) Kholihona 5-8 Step 7. Primary sealing: The stuffed bamboo an intermittent heating, the product becomes ready for containers are now re-stuffed with the raw leaves of consumption (Fig. 7). bladder fern (or fragile fern) locally known as Step 11. Storage: The product is usually allowed biholongoni that belongs to the genus Cystopteris sp. to be inside the fermenting bamboo container itself (Fig. 6). The leaves of this plant are washed and for further storage. Small quantities are taken out stuffed keeping headspace of about 5-10 cm. from the container for cooking after removing all the Step 8. Secondary sealing: Dry paddy straw is sealing materials. For convenience, the final product used as secondary sealing material. Fine straws are is sometimes taken out from the container by cutting it open and kept in a glass jar for further use. It has a cleaned, dried properly and then pushed hard inside shelf life of about 2-3 yrs.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • ENG JUN2020.Cdr
    Rs.10/- | Vol. 13 - Issue 6 | June 2020 PRAYER That Meets the needs JUNE 2020 If You Tell Your Problems PUBLICATION OFFICE To Lord Jesus Christ 1-10-28/247, Anandapuram, Kushaiguda, E.C.I.L. P.O, Then You Can Live Hyderabad - 500062. Without Worries! )040-27125557. E-mail: [email protected] Who are without worries? Those who have met ADMIN. OFFICE the Lord Jesus Christ face to face! 20, Raghul Street, T.M.P. Nagar, When can we meet Jesus face to face? Pudur, Ambattur, Chennai - 600053. when you are on your knees! )044-26869200 And when humbleness comes! E-mail: [email protected] When we cry out to Him saying Website: www.vishwavani.org “Lord, I am unable to do anything, only You can do it”! “My heart is Yours” when you totally commit your heart to Jesus, Then you will be a person VISION who will meet God face to face To see By that time the glorious you will not worry about anything! Whatever troubles you, gospel you will face them then and there on knees of Jesus Christ in the name of Jesus Christ. As the Father knows what you need, blessing He will meet all your needs, villages more than you expect! Be on your knees, in India submit all your requests to the Lord! Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Then you will be able to live without worries There is a peace of God, which transcends all understanding, This peace come from heaven, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
    [Show full text]
  • Changing Cultural Practices Among the Rural and Urbanmising Tribe of Assam, India
    IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science (IOSR-JHSS) Volume 19, Issue 11, Ver. V (Nov. 2014), PP 26-31 e-ISSN: 2279-0837, p-ISSN: 2279-0845. www.iosrjournals.org Changing Cultural Practices among the Rural and UrbanMising Tribe of Assam, India 1Pahari Doley 1(Research Scholar, Gauhati University, India Abstract: The colorful life of the people, their traditional customs, festivals and dances are some of the components of the rich cultural diversity of India as well as its north-eastern region including Assam. Culture is not a static identity and keeps changing. The changing environmental development makes internal adaptation necessary for culture. Thus, a lot of changes have also been observed in the Mising culture too. The impact of urbanisation and modernization has brought a major eeconomic and socio-cultural transformation among the Mising tribe of Assam. Their society is changing not only in the aspects of socio-economic and political areas butalsointraditional beliefs andcultural practices. With the above background, an attempt has been made to understand the traditional and cultural practices among the Mising Tribe of Assam in particular and rural- urban context in general. Keywords: Mising Tribe, culture, cultural diversity, cultural Practices I. Statement Of The Problem The Misings, belonging to Tibeto-Burman ethnic group and formerly known as the Miris, which constitute the second largest scheduled tribe (Plains) group in Assam, have been playing a significant role in the culture and economy of the greater Assamese society in general and tribal society in particular. They with 5.9 lakh population (17.8 per cent of the state’s total tribal people) as per 2001 Census are mainly concentrated in the riverine areas of Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Sibsagar, Jorhat, Golaghat and Sonitpur districts of Assam.
    [Show full text]
  • The Mising Tribe of North East India- a Glimpse
    THE MISING TRIBE OF NORTH EAST INDIA- A GLIMPSE NANDITA KAKOTI Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, JDSG College, Bokakhat Affiliation: Dibrugarh University, Assam, India E-mail: [email protected] Abstract: The Mishing people or Misíng also called Miri are an ethnic tribal group, the second largest tribal group in North- East India, first being the Bodos in Assam. They were earlier called Miris in historical days and the Constitution of India still refers to them as Miris. They are in the list of Scheduled Tribes of India Under constitutional order 1950. They were originally hill tribes of the Himalaya region of North Eastern India, living in the mountain ranges lying between the Suvansiri and Siyang district of Arunachal Pradesh. They are one of the major sections of tribal population in the Brahmaputra Valley of Assam and now spread over wide range of plains and are found in the district of North Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, Golaghat, Sonitpur and Tinsukia. They have been gradually assimilating themselves with other indigenous people of the Plains of Assam and their culture. According to the census of India 2011, the total population of Mising in Assam is 5,87,310. They are now a part and parcel of Assamese society of India and have been contributing a lot to the growth and enrichment of the Assamese society. But still they maintain their own distinctive socio-cultural system and tribal traditional belief and customs. Therefore, this paper attempts to provide a glimpse of the diverse socio-cultural life of Mising people with special reference to Assam , India.
    [Show full text]
  • Scheduled Tribes of Assam
    A STUDY ON POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT OF SCHEDULED TRIBES (PLAIN) OF ASSAM WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO BODOS. SUBMITTED BY RATANLAL BRAHMA UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF DR. SHARAD GHODKE SYNOPSIS OF DISSERTATION SUBMITTED FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY (M.PHIL.) TO TILAK MAHARASHTRA UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE TILAK MAHARASHTRA UNIVERSITY PUNE-411037 MARCH-2010 DECLARATION BY GUIDE This is to conduct that Sri Ratanlal Brahma, worked under my guidance while preparing his Dissertation entitled "A Study on Political Development of Scheduled Tribes (Plains) of Assam with special reference to Bodos." for the degree of Master of Philosopy (M.Phil.). The Dissertation id the result of his own investigation and neither the Thesis nor any part thereof was submitted for any other degree of this or any other University. Place: Pune (Dr. Sharad Ghodke) Date: 18/02/10 Head of Department of Political Science & Public dministration) MES's Abasaheb Garware College, Pune i DECLARATION BY RESEARCHER I hereby declare that this project report (A STUDY ON POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT OF SCHEDULED TRIBES (PLAIN) OF ASSAM WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO) submitted by me is based on actual work carried out by me under the guidance and supervision of Dr. Sharad Ghodke. Any reference to work done by any other person or institution or any material obtained from other sources have been duly cited and referred here. It is further to state that this work is not submitted anywhere for any examination. Tilak Maharashtra University Signature of Researcher Gultekdi, Pune-411037 (Ratanlal Brahma) Place: Pune Date: 18/02/10 ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I feel immense pleawure in extending my deep sense of gratitude to my revered guide Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • The Traditionalfood Preservationsystemof Mising Tribes: a Field Based Study
    JOURNAL OF CRITICAL REVIEWS ISSN- 2394-5125 VOL 7, ISSUE 06, 2020 THE TRADITIONALFOOD PRESERVATIONSYSTEMOF MISING TRIBES: A FIELD BASED STUDY 1.Bhagyashree Gogoi Junior Research fellow, Dept. of Assamese, Dibrugarh University,Assam,India. 2. Lakshyajit Hazarika Research Scholar, Dibrugarh University, Dept. of Assamese, Assam, India, Abstract The Mising tribe is a one of the major tribes of Assam. Mising people have very rich culture. They are very close to nature. Their food habit is very unique and nutritional. They have some specialty in food processing and food preservation system. They preserve seeds, foods items some traditional ways. They made their traditional drinks from natural elements. Rice is their staple food. They also include fish, meat, leafy vegetables in their foods habits. The food preserving methods dependent on natural products. All the processing reflects their way of scientific thought, who can be able to keep their food items in good way. In the paper going to discuss about the traditional food preservation method of Mising tribes. Keywords: Mising Tribes, Traditional, Food Habit, Preservation. 1.00 Introductions: The Misingtribes are a one of the major tribes inhabiting parts of the Indian states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. In Assam, They lived in mainly Tinisukia, Dibrugarh, Dhemaji, Sivasagar, Sonitpur, Jorhat and Lakhimpur districts. Simen Chapari is a versatile area of Dhemaji District. Boro, Rabha, Ahom, Nepali, Bengali, Mising etc. various community, tribal groups are lived here. Lamajan Mising gaon is a Mising tribal area village. From 1980, they lived here permanently. First time they came the areas for mustard cultivate. Now the population of the village is 339.
    [Show full text]
  • Resettlement and Indigenous Peoples Plan (Draft)
    Resettlement and Indigenous Peoples Plan (Draft) Project Number: 38412-033 June 2018 India: Assam Integrated Flood and River Erosion Risk Management Investment Program – Project 2 Kaziranga Subproject: Package KP1: Construction of Sluice Gate 3 Nos at following locations – Ch. 16080 M, Ch. 19370 M and Ch. 20720 M + Bank Protection works 4 km.; Package K-P2: Pro-Siltation measures (River training work) with 24 Nos. of multi-layered PSC porcupine screens at upstream and downstream of Bank protection work; Package K-P3: Emergency work in existing Brahmaputra Dyke (earthworks) of total 3.78 km. Prepared by the Flood and River Erosion Management Agency of Assam (FREMAA), Government of Assam for the Asian Development Bank. This resettlement and indigenous peoples plan is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB's Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. Your attention is directed to the “terms of use” section of this website. In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. ii CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (as of 25 June 2018) Currency unit – Indian rupees (INR/Rs) INR1.00 = $0. 0.0146897 $1.00 = INR 68.07625 ABBREVIATIONS ADB Asian Development Bank ADC Additional Deputy Commissioner AH Affected Households ATH Affected
    [Show full text]
  • Kati Bihu’ Among the Major Tribes of Lakhimpur District of Assam
    AEGAEUM JOURNAL ISSN NO: 0776-3808 Understanding the Different Rites and Rituals of ‘Kati Bihu’ among the major Tribes of Lakhimpur District of Assam. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Montu Chetia Department of History, Kampur College, Nagaon, Assam - 782426 Gmail ID: [email protected] Phone: 9101093556 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Volume 8, Issue 9, 2020 http://aegaeum.com/ Page No: 555 AEGAEUM JOURNAL ISSN NO: 0776-3808 Understanding the Different Rites and Rituals of ‘Kati Bihu’ among the Major Tribes of Lakhimpur District of Assam. Dr. Montu Chetia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Bihu is a national festival of Assam celebrated by all sections of the society irrespective of caste, creed and religion. The Bihu is the identity of Assamese people in all over the country. It is also the symbol of unity among the people of the state. There are three kinds of Bihu generally observed in Assam- Bohag Bihu or Rongali Bihu, Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu and Kati Bihu or Kongali Bihu. Every Bihu has its own features and characteristics which have enriched the cultural prosperity of Assam as well as the whole north eastern region . On the other hand although Bihu is the national festival of Assam yet it varies in form from place to place which have developed the cultural diversity of the state. This paper is an attempt to understand the different rites and rituals of the Kati Bihu or Kongali Bihu among the various tribes of Lakhimpur district as well as whole north bank area of upper Assam and their changes and continuity. KEY WORDS: Kati Bihu, rites and rituals, changes and continuity -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Introduction: Culture is the soul as well as identity of a society.
    [Show full text]
  • A Review on the Economy of the Mising Tribe of Assam Jharna Morang
    Journal of Interdisciplinary Cycle Research ISSN NO: 0022-1945 A Review on the Economy of the Mising Tribe of Assam Jharna Morang Abstract— Mising, the second largest ethnic group of Assam are the backbone of conducive economic development of Assam. As a riverine tribe, agriculture has been the prime occupation since time immemorial that shares a large percentage in the economy of the Mising society. Along with men, Mising women contribute a lot to the income of the family. Originally as they are the rural inhabitants, both men and women are engaged in numerous primitive economic activities. Participation of womenfolk in farm and non farm activities is notable one. There are certain hurdles in the path of development of economy of the Mising tribe. Although they are industrious people, economic backwardness are seen. With due course of time changing trend of economic activities are noticed. Now a portion of population of Mising engage in various public and private sector jobs, small trading etc. Thereby uplift their economic status as well as contributes in the advancement of economy of the society. In this paper various economic activities, role of women in uplifting the rural economy, changing economic trend and hurdles are to be addressed. Keywords— changing trend, farm activities, hurdles, Mising women, non farm activities, primitive economic activities, rural economy. —————————— —————————— 1 INTRODUCTION conomy is the indicator of a country’s progress and development. Economy is one of the factors that a E 2 ECONOMY country’s stability depends on. Country like India where multi ethnic groups reside is the fastest growing economy.
    [Show full text]
  • Religion of Mising Tribes in Assam: an Overview Dandiram Pegu & Dip
    P: ISSN NO.: 2394-0344 RNI No.UPBIL/2016/67980 VOL-5* ISSUE-12* March- 2021 E: ISSN NO.: 2455-0817 Remarking An Analisation Religion of Mising Tribes in Assam: An Overview Paper Submission:20/02/2021, Date of Acceptance: 08/03/2021, Date of Publication: 10/03/2021 Abstract In this paper I would like to focus and highlight about the traditional religion believe and practices of the Misings tribe in Assam and how they has been transforming their religion functions in course of time, due to impact and influenced by the different religious groups since the settlement at plain in Assam. Besides these, how they are trying to keeping their identity through their own religious group by some educated elite of Misings tribe of Assam. However, the Misings tribes have been believe that the universe was created by a supreme heavenly power defied as Sedi and Melo( father and mother) and consider themselves as the progenies of the Sun( Do:nyi) mother and the moon(Po:lo) father. These deities are held having unlimited Omni-potent power and always benevolent to mankind. Therefore, on every occasion of social and religious functions, the Misings offer pray first of these deities. The Misings tribe proprietary rituals are performed whenever necessary to keep these spirits satisfied warded off from casting evils on man. To satisfy the natural and spiritual power they perform the varieties Dandiram Pegu of festivals. During the period since 12th century of their settlement, the HOD, Misings experienced a sea change in all spheres of life. Like others tribal Assistant Professor, groups of the religion came under the influence of this new religion of Dept.
    [Show full text]
  • Studies on Ethno Medicinal and Traditional Healing Practices Among
    Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies 2017; 5(4): 193-196 ISSN (E): 2320-3862 ISSN (P): 2394-0530 Studies on ethno medicinal and traditional NAAS Rating 2017: 3.53 JMPS 2017; 5(4): 193-196 healing practices among mising community of © 2017 JMPS Received: 22-05-2017 Desangmukh Gaon Panchayat, Sivasagar District Accepted: 24-06-2017 of Assam, India Shikha Moni Panging Department of Eco-Restoration, Dimoria College, Khetri, under Department of Life Science, Shikha Moni Panging and Suraj Sharma Dibrugarh University, Assam, India. Abstract Assam is a state of natural beauty and rich in natural resources. Tribal communities practice different Suraj Sharma types of traditional healing practice. Ethno medicinal study of medicinal plants by Mising community in Department of Ecology and Desangmukh, Sivasagar, Assam was done during the year 2016-2017. In the present study 33 species Environmental Science, Assam belonging to 26 families has been recorded, which commonly used by people are curing several diseases University, Silchar, Assam, like skin disease (Azadiracta indica), cough (Ocimum sanctum), piles (Mesua ferrea), diarrhea (Citrus India. aurantifolia), wound (Mikania micrantha), Jaundice (Saccahrum), white discharge of women (Costus specious) and other common disease. Majority of the medicinal plant used by the Mising community is from Asteraceae family followed by Combretaceae, Myrtaceae, Lamiaceae, Solanaceae, Verbinaceae and Zingiberaceae. During the course of interaction the plants which are found are listed according to herb, shrub, trees and climber plants and their parts were used in various disease treatment. Apart from the Mising community of Desangmukh villages also have deep faith in the efficacy of mantras in curing disease.
    [Show full text]
  • The Weaving Culture Among the Misings of Assam, India
    International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development 2014; 1(6): 88-91 IJMRD 2014; 1(6): 88-91 The Weaving Culture Among the Misings of Assam, India www.allsubjectjournal.com Received: 05-11-2014 Accepted: 20-11-2014 e-ISSN: 2349-4182 Pahari Doley p-ISSN: 2349-5979 Abstract Pahari Doley India is a land of diverse culture, religion and communities. North-east India as well as Assam is a Reasearch Scholar, Department of considered to be a cultural hub of diverse ethnic groups each having its own traditions, culture, dress, Geography Gauhati University, food habits etc. The culture of the tribals of North-east India is incomplete without the weaving culture Assam, India. which has been practiced since time immemorial. The Misings, an ethnic group of Assam has also significantly contributed to the weaving culture of Assam showing the artistic talent of the women folks. Weaving culture is common among the rural Misings and the weaving loom is found almost in every household. Although with the impact of modernization, weaving culture is becoming commercialized but still now it is considered to be a symbol of love and affection among the rural Misings women of Assam. With the above background, an attempt is made in this paper to understand the importance of weaving culture among the Misings of Assam. Keywords: Culture, Ethnic group, Misings, Weaving loom 1. Introduction The Misings constitute the second largest scheduled tribe (Plains) of Assam after the Bodos with a population of 5.9 lakh (2001 Census). They belong to the Tibeto-Burman ethnic group and were formerly known as Miris.
    [Show full text]
  • The Samugurias: Assamese-Speaking Mising People
    Running Head: THE SAMUGARIAS: ASSAMESE-SPEAKING MISING PEOPLE 7 ICLEHI 2017-009 Rupanjali Morang Saha The Samugurias: Assamese-Speaking Mising People Rupanjali Morang Saha North Lakhimpur College, Assam, India [email protected] Abstract Assam is situated in the Eastern part of India (Bharat). The great river of Assam names Brahmaputra is also known as Tsangpo (Purifier) in China flows through the green plains of this end. There are many tribes in Assamese Society. The Mising are second largest tribes in Assam of the Brahmaputra Valley which from anthropological and linguistical point of view belongs to the Tibeto-Burmese and Indo-Mongoloid people. In Assam the Misings are divided into many different clans, viz. (i) Ayengia, (ii) Bebezia, (iii) Bihia, (iv) Bonkual, (v) Chamua, (vi) Chayengia, (vii) Dambukial, (viii) Delu, (ix) Moyengia, (x) Pagro, (xi) Samuguria and (xii) Temera. Again the Misings are linguistically divided into two broad groups; (i) Mising speaking and (ii) Assamese Speaking. The Assamese speaking Misings are Bihia, Bonkual, Chamua, Samuguria and Temera. Here it will be discussed on the Assamese speaking Mising society of Samugurians only. Samugurians are those living only in the two districts of Assam; Lakhimpur and Dhemaji. There are no sufficient research works on the Samugurian people till today in scientific method. So it will be a unique work. The aim of this paper is to highlight the socio-cultural life of the Samugurians; which are Assamese speaking Misings. It is an honest trial to study the process of assimilation of this society in the time being. At present the influence of globalization is leading to the extinction of this very small population of the Samugurias.
    [Show full text]