Sonowal Kacharis

Sonowal Kacharis Latest News

A new study has identified 39 plants used by the Sonowal Kachari community to treat ailments ranging from fever and cough to kidney stones and skin diseases.

About Sonowal Kacharis

• They are an indigenous people who live in northeast India. 
• The vast majority of the Sonwal live in Assam. They are the third-largest plain tribe in Assam and one of the oldest tribes of Assam. 
• Smaller groups live in Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya.
• They are recognized as a Scheduled Tribe (Plains) in Assam.
• They are of Mongoloid origin, and linguistically, the Sonowal Kachari people belong to the Tibetan language family. 
• The name ‘’Sonowal’’ comes from the word for gold. The traditional occupation of the Sonwal was panning for gold during the Ahom kingdom.
• Today the Sonowal are primarily engaged in agriculture. They grow rice, betel nut, sweet potatoes, and cotton. 
• The Sonowal are believed to have a very rich traditional knowledge of indigenous medicine.
• The primary language of the Sonowal is Assamese. Many also speak Hindi so they can communicate with outsiders.
• Religion: 
  • The Sonowal practices Hinduism strongly influenced by folk religion. 
  • They have their own village shrines and generally do not visit Hindu temples.
  • Sonowal considers Shiva, the destroyer god, to be their primary deity.

Source: TOI

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