Rengma Naga Tribe

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

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