kuki tribe

Kuki
It is a tribal group of the Imphal district of state of Manipur. They are also in the Tipera,
Kuchar and Lushai hilly areas. Their population is 33,812 (1991 census) and their sex
ratio is 1 : 1.8.
They are divided into two subgroups Thados (New Kuki) and Old Kuki. The members of
each subgroup do not marry into the other. They have Mongolian features (oblique eyes
with epicanthic fold and prominent cheekbones).
The Kuki villages are concerned with name of gotra and the road of the village is
decorated with the belongings of the prestigious dead persons. At the sides of the road
earthen pots, skull of animals and blankets are kept. In the village, their houses are made
of bamboo.
Birth Ceremony
They follow some taboos (prohibitions) during the pregnancy and they worship Pathain
spirits, who protect the child during the pregnancy. They give feast and ju (a kind of rice
wine) at the time of the birth to the community men.
Marriage Ceremony
At the level of the gotra, they are exogamous and they are engaged in polygamy (a man
marries more then one woman). Bride wealth is high. If the husband wants separation,
then he has to return all the bride wealth to the bride but if the bride wants separation, it is
not required. Two Makkas (son-in-law) can live in their in-laws home. Makkas in general
practice are the husbands of the first and the second daughters. Makkas are the
representatives of the in-laws home. On every religious and social event, their presence is
a must. They do all the important work at the time of marriage and death. On the
occurrence of any disease in their family, they carry out sacrifices.
Widow marriage is in practice in the case of childless females. At the time of marriage,
they serve fried fish and ju (rice made wine).
Death Ceremony
After the occurrence of death they sacrifice a monkey and offer ju (wine) to their
Khuarainaga (god), they burn the dead body and make monuments of the dead person.
Religion
They are Hindus but Christianity is spreading among them. Mainly they worship different
spirits. Pathain – their deity who looks after the welfare of the community and pregnant
woman. Khuarainaga – a spirit who protects them diseases (malaria). Sakhua – a god of
gotra, who protects all the members of a gotra. They have no priests. Any body can be a
priest, but every gotra has at least one priest.
Festival
Sakhua, Khal, Dayabal festival are celebrated for the worship of Gods. Their main
festival is Char Khunt. This festival is done at the time of the jhum cultivation. It spans
over four days. Pig sacrifice is performed and ju is distributed.
Education
Kuki are 13% literate and increasing. Two government schools and one missionary
school are in their area.
Economy
Their economy is related with jhum (shifing) cultivation and fishing. They are engaged in
handicraft work and fruit production. They make earthen pots.
Property is inherited from the father to the youngest son of the family. If any family is
childless, adoption is an alternative and is very frequent.
Young Kuki males live is Jaual-bukh (youth house), where they learn dance, and singing
and sexual philosophy. Hotu (oldest person) is the chief of the Jaual-bukh.
In the light of education and Panchayati raj system Kuki are approaching modern life but
adopting new areas of economy as bamboo-bucket manufacturing. Thul, Doren (different
types of buckets) are popular in the modern market. They are becoming weavers and
dyer, which is making a significant change in their lives.