Rengma Naga Tribe

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About Rengma Naga Tribe:

The Rengma Naga are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group inhabiting the Northeast Indian states of Nagaland and Assam.
According to the 2011 Census of India, the population of Rengmas in Nagaland stands at 62,951 and the population of Rengmas in Assam is around 22,000.
They call themselves by the names of “Njong” or “Injang”.
They belong to the Mongoloid racial stock.
It is believed that Rengmas, along with other Naga tribes, migrated from Southeast Asia across the Yunnan Mountain ranges and settled down on the upper Burma region.
Slavery used to be practised among the Rengmas, and the slaves were most commonly known by the names menugetenyu and it sakesa.
- By the time the Britishers/ British arrived in the Naga region, slavery was a declining practice, and no Rengma appears to have been a slave during that time.
Economy:
- The Rengma tribes are agriculturalists.
- They grow paddy through Jhum cultivation and wet cultivation. Besides paddy staple crops, seasonal crops and fruits are also grown.
Religion: Traditionally, Rengma tribes are worshippers of supernatural beings. Nowmost of the Rengma tribes are Christians.
Festivals:
- Rengma Tribes celebrate a lot of seasonal festivals that are related to their agriculture.
- “Ngada” is the most important festival of Rengma tribes.

Q1: What is Jhum cultivation?

Jhum cultivation is a traditional agricultural practice primarily found in the northeastern states of India and other parts of Southeast Asia. It is also known as shifting cultivation or slash-and-burn agriculture. This method involves clearing forested areas, usually by cutting and burning the vegetation, and then planting crops for a short period before moving to a new plot of land.

News: Nagaland: Rengma Naga tribe celebrates Ngada festival