The Hajongs have a very rich culture. Hajong culture has greatly influenced and has had a tremendous impact on the language, clothing, and culture of other tribes like the Koches of Meghalaya, Banais, and Dalus. Hajong women can be easily identified by their brightly striped red dress called
Pathin. Traditionally, and in many present-day villages, women are accomplished weavers who weave their own dresses. The Hajongs make it compulsory for every woman to know the art of weaving, which is regarded as a qualification for a woman for marriage. The Hajongs are a group of
agrarian people, most of their cultural practices, folklore and traditions are related to their agricultural practices. Hajongs are skilled in
woodwork and
basketry, they make all of their farming tools and household items themselves. In addition to the implements needed for rice farming, Hajong households have many bamboo fishing implements.
House pattern In a Hajong village, except for the house of an
Udhikâri, all other houses are almost similar in pattern with different sizes. The scenario of having an earthen plinth and two thatched roofs on both sides is common in every Hajong village. Bamboos and timbers are used occasionally. Floors are earthen and walls are made of split bamboo plastered with cow dung.
Mak Mas (January- February) and
Phalgun Mas (February- March) are the two most favourable months for constructing a new house. During this period, they are free from agricultural works. Traditional Hajong houses consist of separate buildings centered on a courtyard. The Hajongs customarily construct four or five houses on the four sides protecting the middle portion of the courtyard. The courtyard is used as a space for religious rites. The kitchen is built separately from the main dwelling. There is a common courtyard in every household which is used for threshing grains after harvest. A typical Hajong household consists of the buildings listed below: :*
Bhat ghor: also called
mâijâ ghor, is the main dwelling, dining hall and also a bedroom :*
Akhli ghor: kitchen :*
Kasri ghor: dormitory with provision for guests :*
Khupra ghor: also called
jura ghor, bedroom for a married son or daughter :*
Chang ghor: granary :*
Dhiki ghor: husking house :*
Guli ghor: cattle shed :*
Dyao ghor: a shrine for the household deities
Food habits The staple food is rice eaten with lentils and vegetables. For special occasions, rice is ground into fine powder and used to make steamed or fried rice cakes called
pithâ. Tortoise has traditionally been the favourite meat. Some of the traditional dishes are: :*
Dingpura : a type of sweet rice cooked in a special type of Bamboo :*
Libahak : dishes made with ground rice :*
Bukni Bhat : fermented rice :*
Bisi Bhat : a type of steamed sticky and sweet rice :*
Bhâtuwahak : dishes with rice flour and fermented fish :*
Putâmas : small fishes steamed in banana leaves :*
Chunsâhak : a type of cooked vegetable for special guest :*
Tupla Bhat : rice cooked in banana leaves :*
Kharpani : vegetable boiled with dried fish and soda :*
Chungâhak : dishes cooked in bamboo
Art Hajong Art includes
Birapat-chitâ which are painted on a wall of the
Airo Ghor by
airos on the during wedding ceremonies. In
Birapat-chita also called
Chan Bila Akawa the Sun, Moon, Stars, birds, boats and
palanquins are painted with powdered rice (
pithli),
vermilion and
kohl. Other works of art is done in the preparation of
Merr for
Maroi Pujâ. In Merr various Gods and Goddesses and other auspicious objects are painted, intended for the worship of the serpent goddess
Kani Diyao. Another popular folk art among the hajongs is paper cutting. Paper cuttings with elaborate designs are hung on the doors during weddings and other festive occasions. Ceremonial
banana trees are often decorated with intricate paper cuttings.
Music Traditional music includes
gitâlu gahen,
gupni gahen and several songs related to agriculture and religious rites. Some of the traditional instruments are listed below: :*
Dhuluk : a broad drum with membranes at each end played from two ends. :*
Basi : a
flute. :*
Khul : a pair of small cymbals made of brass. :*
Dutra : a stringed instrument. :*
Dhapa kurtal : a pair of large
cymbals. :*
Hurindo : a
fiddle. :*
Hamuktal : an instrument made with
apple snail shells. :*
Gugna : a
lamellophone instrument, consisting of a flexible
bamboo tongue attached to a frame.
Festivals Pusnâ is one of the most important festivals celebrated by the Hajongs marking the end of winter and the month of
Pus; It is the celebration of
Makar Sankranti, with feasts lasting for a week. Hajong people celebrate Hindu festivals like Durga Puja and Kamakhya Puja. They also celebrate a few traditional festivals. Traditional rituals are performed by a
Dyushi or a
Nungtang, a Hajong shaman. Bastu pujâ, being one of the traditional festivals, does not involve idol worship and is celebrated in an area outside the village premises, called
Bastu hali or
Bastu than. In
Bastu pujâ tortoises and pigeons are sacrificed for
Bastu dyao. Another festival is called
chormaga in Mymensingh and
chorkhila in India. Chorkhila is celebrated during the month of October in South-West Garo Hills Districts of Meghalaya. During this festival, group of young people go around each house in the village, or from village to village, playing music and singing folsongs, sometimes stories from the
Ramayana. The parties receive some rice or money in return for their performance. Since every person, both young and old, comes out to watch the play, this is considered a chance to check out prospective brides and grooms. The Hajongs also celebrate their pre-monsoon harvest festival known as 'Biswâ'. Kani pujâ, Kâtkâ pujâ, are also performed on the last day of the month of
Srabon and
Kati. The day of
Sharad Purnima is known as
Kujâi Ghor among the Hajongs. ==Notes==