Mara (Tagin)
Encyclopedia
Mara refers to a tribe in Arunachal Pradesh
. The Mara are ethnically Tagin although they claim to be a separate group, just like the Nga
to the north, but they acknowledge a common ancestry. Like the Nga, the Mara also engage in barter trade with the Tibetans
in the north prior to the closure of the Indo-Tibetan border in view of the 1962 Sino-Indian War
. They traded ornaments, Tibetan dao from the Tibetans in the north and Mithun
, tribal masks, animal hides and dyes of plants from the Nishi
and Sulung on the south.
The Mara inhabit in Limeking in Upper Subansiri
, just south of Taksing which is inhabited by the Nga. The Mara believed that they were descended from two brothers, Kangra and Mara, who came from Nyime (Tibet
) and settled in the region. Like other Tagins, the Mara subscribe to the Donyi Polo faith but have come under considerable Tibetan Buddhist influence as a result of centuries of interactions with the Tibetans in the north.
Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh is a state of India, located in the far northeast. It borders the states of Assam and Nagaland to the south, and shares international borders with Burma in the east, Bhutan in the west, and the People's Republic of China in the north. The majority of the territory is claimed by...
. The Mara are ethnically Tagin although they claim to be a separate group, just like the Nga
Nga people
The Na or Nga people is a small tribal group residing in the higher reaches, below the great Himalayan ranges in Upper Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Within the district, they are found in the villages within Taksing circle: Gumsing, Taying, Esnaya, Lingbing, Tongla, Yeja, Reding,...
to the north, but they acknowledge a common ancestry. Like the Nga, the Mara also engage in barter trade with the Tibetans
Tibetan people
The Tibetan people are an ethnic group that is native to Tibet, which is mostly in the People's Republic of China. They number 5.4 million and are the 10th largest ethnic group in the country. Significant Tibetan minorities also live in India, Nepal, and Bhutan...
in the north prior to the closure of the Indo-Tibetan border in view of the 1962 Sino-Indian War
Sino-Indian War
The Sino-Indian War , also known as the Sino-Indian Border Conflict , was a war between China and India that occurred in 1962. A disputed Himalayan border was the main pretext for war, but other issues played a role. There had been a series of violent border incidents after the 1959 Tibetan...
. They traded ornaments, Tibetan dao from the Tibetans in the north and Mithun
Mithun
Mithun, Midhun, Mithen can refer to:* Methun, another name for gayal, the domesticated form of the gaur cattle species* Methun, one of the names of the Hindu god Krishna* Methun, a month in the Hindu calendar* Methun, means patient in Sanskrit...
, tribal masks, animal hides and dyes of plants from the Nishi
Nishi (Tribe)
- Nyishi People :The Nyishi people principally inhabit the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. Known as the Nyishi ....
and Sulung on the south.
The Mara inhabit in Limeking in Upper Subansiri
Upper Subansiri
Upper Subansiri is an administrative district in the state of Arunachal Pradesh in India.-History:The district was formed when Subansiri district was bifurcated into Upper and Lower Subansiri districts in 1987.-Geography:...
, just south of Taksing which is inhabited by the Nga. The Mara believed that they were descended from two brothers, Kangra and Mara, who came from Nyime (Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
) and settled in the region. Like other Tagins, the Mara subscribe to the Donyi Polo faith but have come under considerable Tibetan Buddhist influence as a result of centuries of interactions with the Tibetans in the north.