The Garos are a tribal people in Meghalaya, India, and neighboring areas of Bangladesh who call themselves A·chik Mande (literally “hill people,” from a·chik “hill” + mande “people”) or simply A·chik or Mande. They are the second-largest tribe in Meghalaya after the Khasi and comprise about a third of the local population. The Garo community is one of the major tribes in Bangladesh. According to history books, the Garo tribe entered Bangladesh in the first century. They were refugees from Mongolia and came to this region through Tibet. The Garo have stayed in Bangladesh for thousands of years.
Religion: Initially, they followed a religion called Sonatoni. During the British rule in this subcontinent, they came to Christ. Today, nearly 100 percent of the Garo tribe practices Christianity, though a few still believe in Sonatoni.
Geographical distribution: The Garos are mainly found in greater Mymensingh (Tangail, Jamalpur, Sherpore, Netrakona) and Gazipur, Rangpur, Sunamgonj, Sylhet, Moulovibazar district of Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, A·beng is the usual dialect, but A·chik is used more in India. The Garo language has different sub-languages, viz- A·beng, Matabeng, Atong, Me·gam, Matchi, Dual [Matchi-Dual]Ruga, Chibok, Chisak, Gara, Gan·ching [Gara-Gan·ching] A·we, etc.
Language: The Garo language has some similarities with Boro-Kachari, Rava, Dimasa, and Kok-Borok languages.
Culture: The Garos are one of the few remaining matrilineal societies in the world. Individuals take their clan titles from their mothers. After getting married, the man lives in his wife’s house. The culture of the modern Garo community has been greatly influenced by Christianity. Nokpantes are the glory of the past, and all children are given equal care, rights, and importance by modern parents.
Ornaments: Both men and women enjoy adorning themselves with a variety of ornaments. These ornaments are Nadongbi or sisha – made of a brass ring worn in the lobe of the ear, Nadirong – a brass ring worn in the upper part of the ear, Natapsi – a string of beads worn in the upper part of the ear, Jaksan – bangles of different materials and sizes, Ripok – necklaces made of long barrel-shaped beads of cornelian or red glass while some are made out of brass or silver and are worn on special occasions. Jaksil – an elbow ring worn by rich men on Gana Ceremonies, Penta – a small piece of ivory struck into the upper part of the ear projecting upwards parallel to the side of the head, Seng’ki – a waistband consisting of several rows of conch-shells worn by women, Pilne – a head ornament worn during the dances only by the women.
Weapons: Garos have their own weapons. One of the principal weapons is a two-edged sword called millam made of one piece of iron from hilt to point. There is a cross-bar between the hilt and the blade where attached a bunch of ox’s tail-hair. Other types of weapons are shields, spear, bows and arrows, axes, daggers, etc.
Food and drink: The staple cereal food is rice.
“They also eat millet, maize, tapioca, etc. Garos are very liberal in their food habits. They rear goats, pigs, fowls, ducks, etc. and relish their meat. They also eat other wild animals like deer, bison, wild pigs, etc. Fish, prawns, crabs, eels, and dry fish are also a part of their food. Their jhum fields and forests provide them with a number of vegetables and roots for their curry, but bamboo shoots are esteemed as a delicacy. They use a kind of potash in curries, which they obtain by burning dry pieces of plantain stems or young bamboos locally known as Kalchi or Katchi.
After they are burnt, the ashes are collected and dipped in water and then strained conically shaped in a bamboo strainer. These days, most town people use soda from the market in place of this ash water. Apart from other drinks, country liquor plays an important role in the life of the Garos.
Garo Architecture: Generally, one finds a similar type of art and architecture throughout the whole of Garo Hills. They normally use locally available building materials like timbers, bamboo, cane, and thatch. Garo architecture can be classified into the following categories: Nokmong, Nokpante, Jamdap, Jamatdal.
Festivals: The common and regular festivals are those connected with agricultural operations. The greatest among Garo festivals is the Wangala, usually celebrated in October or November. It is a thanksgiving festival after harvest, in which Saljong, the god who provides mankind with nature’s bounties and ensures their prosperity, is honored. Other festivals include Gal·mak Doa, Agalmaka, etc.
Wangala of Asanang: There is a celebration of the 100-drum festival in Asanang near Tura in West Garo Hills, Meghalaya, India, usually in the month of October or November. Thousands of people, especially the young people, gather at Asanang and celebrate Wangala with great joy. Beautiful Garo girls known as nomil and handsome young men called pantetake part in the Wangala festivals. The pantes beat a kind of long drum called dama in groups and play bamboo flute. The nomils with colorful costumes dance to the tune of dama and folk songs in a circle. Most of the folk songs depict ordinary Garo life, God’s blessings, the beauty of nature, day-to-day struggles, romance, and human aspirations.
Christmas: Though Christmas is basically a religious celebration, in Garo Hills, the month of December is a great season of celebration.”
In the first week of December, the town of Tura and all other smaller towns are illuminated with lights, and the celebration goes on till about January 10th. The celebration is featured by worship, dance, merry-making, grand feasts, and social visits. People from all religions and sections take part in the Christmas celebration.
Tallest Christmas Tree in the World: In December 2003, the tallest Christmas tree in the world was erected at Dobasipara, Tura, by the Baptist boys of Dobasipara. Its height was 119.3 feet, covered by BBC, and widely broadcast on television. The tree was decorated with 16,319 colored light bulbs, and it took about 14 days to complete the decoration.
The annual winter festival AHAIA: The festival, conceptualized in 2008, is aimed at promoting and branding this part of the region as a popular tourist destination, vis-a-vis giving an opportunity for the regional people to showcase their skills and expertise. The three-day fest features a gala event with a carnival, cultural show, food festival, rock concert, wine festival, angling competition, ethnic wear competition, children’s fancy dress, DJ Nite, exhibitions, housie housie, and other games. The entry forms for the carnival and other events are available at the Tourist Office in Tura.
Music and Dance: Group songs may include Ku·dare sala, Hoa ring·a, Injoka, Kore doka, Ajea, Doroa, Nanggorere goserong, Dim dim chong dading chong, Serejing, Boel sala, etc. Dance forms are Ajema Roa, Mi Su·a, Chambil Moa, Do·kru Sua, Chame mikkang nia, Kambe Toa, Gaewang Roa, Napsepgrika, and many others.
The traditional Garo musical instruments can broadly be classified into four groups. [5] Idiophones: Self-sounding and made of resonant materials – Kakwa, Nanggilsi, Guridomik, Kamaljakmora, all kinds of gongs, Rangkilding, Rangbong, Nogri, etc. Aerophones: Wind instruments whose sound comes from air vibrating inside a pipe when blown – Adil, Singga, Sanai, Kal, Bolbijak, Illep, or Illip, Olongna, Tarabeng, Imbanggi, Akok, or Dakok, Bangsi rori, Tilara, or Taragaku, Bangsi mande, Otekra, Wa·pepe, or Wa·pek. Chordophones: Stringed instruments – Dotrong, Sarenda, Chigring or Bagring, Dimchrang or Kimjim, Gongmima, or Gonggina. Membranophones: Which have skins or membranes stretched over a frame – Am·beng Dama, Chisak Dama, Atong Dama, Garaganching Dama, Ruga, and Chibok Dama, Dual-Matchi Dama, Nagra, Kram, etc.
