A glimpse of A.chik or Garo Tribe
The name “Garo” is given by other communities when they started to live in their areas during migration from Tibet. As in the past they were nomadic tribes moving from one place to another in search of food and better opportunities.
A.chik or Garo Tribe mostly live in Meghalaya in India and its neighbouring country like Bangladesh. In India they mostly reside in the states of Meghalaya, Assam, Nagaland, Tripura and a little in West Bengal.
In Bangladesh A.chik or Garo Tribe mostly live in Netrokona, Madhupur, Jamalpur, Sherpur, Sylhet and Rangamati.
Religion
A.chik or Garo Tribe mostly follow christianity. Some areas still follow the religion of ancestors presently known as Songsarek. In the states of Tripura, Assam and West Bengal few people also can be seen following Hinduism as a result of common society.
Culture
A.chik or Garo Tribe have a tradition of matrilineal society. Matrilineality is the power of kingship or supreme power through the female line. which can involve the inheritance of property or titles, where even the surname is used from the Mother’s Clan for their descendants.
Traditionally, the youngest daughter owns the property from her mother called “Nok-Mechik”.
But, nowadays it depends on the parents’ will. The daughter who serves best to their parent’s is adopted for the title of Nok-Mechik.
Nokpante
A house where unmarried male youths and bachelors get trained and live. In the past Nokpante was built near to Nokmas’s boundary in the front courtyard, the chief of the local community.
These young and budding youths use to learn the skill and art of house construction, art of fishing, hunting, firming, fighting, gaming and so on.
Youths and bachelors have to leave the Nokpante once they engage with their female partner and get married.
Women are debarred from entering the Nokpante. Any women from their own community and others are considered to be illegal. There is a provision of fine and penalty in a.chik or Garo tradition.
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