The Hajong is a tribal

Adivasi

Adivasi is an umbrella term for a heterogeneous set of ethnic and tribal groups claimed to be the aboriginal population of India. They comprise a substantial indigenous minority of the population of India...

 ethnic group in the Indian Subcontinent & four major Tribe in Meghalaya. Hajong people are spread out across northeast India and Bangladesh. At present their population is more than 100,000 in India and 30,000 in Bangladesh. Hajongs are predominantly rice farmers although some also find work as day labourers or by selling firewood. Hajong have the status of a Scheduled Tribe in India.

Religion

Hajongs once practiced an animist religion, but now consider themselves to be Hindus. Some of the animistic worship and beliefs are still prevalent among the Hajong society.

Geographical Distribution

The Hajong people are spread out across northeast India and Bangladesh with the majority of the population on the India side of the border. In India, Hajongs are found in both the Garo and Khasi Hills of Meghalaya, largely along the Bangladesh border. They also live in the Dhubri and Goalpara districts of lower Assam, Dhemaji and other districts of upper Assam and into Arunachal Pradesh. In Bangladesh, Hajongs are found in the northern Dhaka division, although there are unconfirmed reports of some Hajong living in Chittagong division. The narrow strip of borderland that stretches from Sherpur district in the west as far Sunamganj district in the east can be considered the southern outpost of the greater Hajong community.

Language

The Hajong language is an Eastern Indo-Aryan language and closely related to Bangla.

Culture

Hajong women can be easily identified by their brightly striped red dress called a Pathin& "Phula Agron". Traditionally, and in many present day villages, women are accomplished weavers who make their own Pathin,Phula Agron,Phula Kompes, Gamsa and their household's clothing.

Traditional Hajong houses consist of separate buildings centered around a courtyard. Floors are earthen and walls are made of split bamboo plastered with cow dung. The buildings in a Hajong house are

• Bhat ghor - dining hall and also bedroom
• Akhli ghor - kitchen
• Kasri ghor - dormitory with provision for guests
• Khopra ghor - bedroom for a married son or daughter
• Chang ghor - granary
• Dheki ghor - husking house
• Guli ghor - cattle shed
• Deo ghor - room for daily prayer and worship

In addition to the implements needed for rice farming, households have many bamboo fishing implements. The staple food is rice eaten with lentils and vegetables. For special occasions, rice is ground to a powder and used to make deep fried cakes called pitha. Tortoise is traditionally the favorite meat. The traditional hajong dishes are

• Dingpora - A type of sweet rice cooked in special type of Bamboo
• Lebahak - Made from ground rice
• Bukni Bhat - Fermented Rice
• Bisi Bhat - A type of sticky & sweet rice cooked on vapour
• Bhatuwahak - Curry cooked with rice flour & rotten fish
• Putamas - Small fish cooked by wrapping banana leave.
• Chonsahak - Small quantity of vegetable cooked for special guest
• Topla Bhat - Rice wrapped with banana leaves
• Kharpani - Vegetable boiled with dryfish and Soda
• Chungahak - Curry cooked in bamboo with its mouth air tied

Festivals

In addition to common Hindu festivals of the region such as Durga Puja, Hajongs celebrate some festivals unique to their culture. One type of traditional festival in honor of the Bastu ,Paabni & group of deities is conducted by a village priest called a Deoshi or Nongtang. Bastu puja takes place in a fixed location outside the village and does not involve idol worship. Tortoises and pigeons are sacrificed for Bastu.

Another festival is called chormaga in Mymensingh and chorkhela in the Garo Hills. During this festival, troops of youth go around from house to house in the village, or from village to village, playing music and acting out stories, sometimes from the Ramayana. The parties receive some rice or money in return for their entertainment. Since every person, young and old, comes out to watch the fun, this is considered a chance to check out prospective brides and grooms.

Proverbs

Below are some Hajong proverbs with both literal and meaning-based translations

• Bibak bangosla tengol nahoi বিবাক বাংশলা তেঙল নহয়

All bamboo cannot be made into tie strips. Or 'All that glitters isn't gold'.

• Gasoni kaholra, otoni telra গাছনি কাহলৰা, ওঠনি তেলৰা

While the jackfruit is still on the tree, there is already oil on the lip. Or 'Don't count your chickens before they are hatched'.

• Huwâr kopalni condon phota শুৱৗৰ কুপালনি চন্দন ফোটা

A religious mark on a pig's forehead. Or 'A wolf in sheep's clothing'.