Khowa
Encyclopedia
Khoa redirects here. For the foodstuff, see Khoa (food)
The Khowa, also known as Bugun in their native tongue, is a tribal group in India
. They live mainly in the subtropical Tenga Velley or Singchung Administrative Circle of West Kameng
district with its whole native polulations under 6-Thrizino-Buragaon Assemmbly Constiuency of the state of Arunachal Pradesh
. According to the native legend, they believed that they are the descendants of the Achinphumphulua.
The Buguns are further subdivided into sections according to their specific locality (Hakhongdua, Hajidua, Braidua, Khuchundua, Hayindua). Their populations are mainly concentrated in the villages namely- Wanghoo, Dikhiyang, Bichom, Ramu, Lali, Situ, Sachida, Lichini, Ditching, Mangopam, Singchung, Namfri and Kaspi. Their immediate neighbours are Aka(Hrusso), Miji (Sajalong/Dhammai), Sherdukpen and Monpa.
Acting as a basis of their livehood, shifting cultivation
is practiced and domestic animals such as cow, horse, pig, sheep, goat, fowl and the mithun
are reared. To enrich their diet, wild animals are hunted using simple spears, traps, bows and arrows.
Together with the Miji
and Aka
, long hair is kept by some members of both sexes. While the both sexes adorn themselves with silver ornaments, the men wear a very long white garment and a very high hat, resembling a Turkish Fez
. The women wear a skull cap, sometimes decorated with beautiful patterns. Purple and checkered jackets are worn as well, usually accompanied by another singlet.
The Khowa are followers of the Donyi-Polo
religion and have came under Tibetan Buddhist influence from the neighbouring ethnic group Sherdukpen
. Profound Buddhist influence has led to the adoption of many Buddhist rituals and the invitation of Buddhist lamas to participate in their communal rituals. As a result, many Khowa declared themselves as Buddhist in censuses. However, animism is still profound with majority of them.
Especially in Sraiba(place or a ground for worshiop and related festive celebration) of every major villages, Kshyatsowai/Dihing Kho and Pham Kho is celebrated by the Bugun, in which the Phabi priest plays an important role in conducting the ceremony and religious rituals. Songs and dances such as Clown and Gasisiu have a close affiliation with their religion. Feasts durind these festivals mainly includes their traditional foods and Phua(local brew).
The traditional village council of the Bugun (Khowa) is known as Nimiyang (Council of Elders), which looks after every aspect of village life, may it be decision-making, utilization of local resources, conflict resolution or regulating the society. Each family is represented in the Nimiang sessions by its head male member. The traditional village council of buguns are headed by Thap-Bahow (Chief). The Thap-Bakhow is an accepted leader and selected unanimously and not hereditary. There is no strict criterion for selection of the Thap-Bakhow , but a person with economic affluence, social stature, knowledge of customary laws, sound mentality, physical strength and generosity are taken into consideration. He presides over the meetings and sittings of the Nimiyang session. It is customary that only male member possessing above qualities can become Thap-Bakhow.Womenfolk is just a passive spectator and witnesses the proceedings of the Nimiyang sessions only. However, a female member is allowed to represent if its male member is absent.
In 2006, a rare bird Bugun Liocichla
was named after the tribe.
Begun (Begün) is also a Turkish tabloid newspaper.
Khoa (food)
Khoa is a milk food widely used in the Indian cuisine, made of either dried whole milk or milk thickened by heating in an open iron pan.It is similar to ricotta cheese, but lower in moisture and made from whole milk instead of whey....
The Khowa, also known as Bugun in their native tongue, is a tribal group in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. They live mainly in the subtropical Tenga Velley or Singchung Administrative Circle of West Kameng
West Kameng
West Kameng is a district of Arunachal Pradesh in India. It accounts for 8.86% of the total area of the state. Under Chinese sovereignty claim, West Kameng falls under the jurisdiction of Cuona County of Shannan Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region...
district with its whole native polulations under 6-Thrizino-Buragaon Assemmbly Constiuency of the state of Arunachal Pradesh
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...
. According to the native legend, they believed that they are the descendants of the Achinphumphulua.
The Buguns are further subdivided into sections according to their specific locality (Hakhongdua, Hajidua, Braidua, Khuchundua, Hayindua). Their populations are mainly concentrated in the villages namely- Wanghoo, Dikhiyang, Bichom, Ramu, Lali, Situ, Sachida, Lichini, Ditching, Mangopam, Singchung, Namfri and Kaspi. Their immediate neighbours are Aka(Hrusso), Miji (Sajalong/Dhammai), Sherdukpen and Monpa.
Acting as a basis of their livehood, shifting cultivation
Shifting cultivation
Shifting cultivation is an agricultural system in which plots of land are cultivated temporarily, then abandoned. This system often involves clearing of a piece of land followed by several years of wood harvesting or farming, until the soil loses fertility...
is practiced and domestic animals such as cow, horse, pig, sheep, goat, fowl and the 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...
are reared. To enrich their diet, wild animals are hunted using simple spears, traps, bows and arrows.
Together with the Miji
Miji
The Miji, also known by the names of Sajolang and Damai, inhabit the districts of West Kameng and East Kameng in Arunachal Pradesh, India...
and Aka
Aka (tribe)
The Aka, also known as Hrusso, are found in the Thrizino , Bhalukpong , Buragaon, Jamiri, Palizi, Khuppi area in West Kameng of the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. Their language belongs to the Tibeto-Burman family....
, long hair is kept by some members of both sexes. While the both sexes adorn themselves with silver ornaments, the men wear a very long white garment and a very high hat, resembling a Turkish Fez
Fez (clothing)
The fez , or tarboosh is a felt hat either in the shape of a red truncated cone or in the shape of a short cylinder made of kilim fabric. Both usually have tassels...
. The women wear a skull cap, sometimes decorated with beautiful patterns. Purple and checkered jackets are worn as well, usually accompanied by another singlet.
The Khowa are followers of the Donyi-Polo
Donyi-Polo
Donyi-Polo is an animist religion, literally meaning "Sun-Moon" . It is followed by many of the tribal groups of Arunachal Pradesh, India like the Galos, Adis, Apatanis, Nishis, Hill Miris, Mishings...
religion and have came under Tibetan Buddhist influence from the neighbouring ethnic group Sherdukpen
Sherdukpen
The Sherdukpen are an ethnic group related to both the Aka and Monpa. Their population of 4,200 is centered in West Kameng in the villages of Rupa, Jigaon, Thongri, Shergaon, in Bomdila. All of these are at elevations between 5000–6000 feet above sea level...
. Profound Buddhist influence has led to the adoption of many Buddhist rituals and the invitation of Buddhist lamas to participate in their communal rituals. As a result, many Khowa declared themselves as Buddhist in censuses. However, animism is still profound with majority of them.
Especially in Sraiba(place or a ground for worshiop and related festive celebration) of every major villages, Kshyatsowai/Dihing Kho and Pham Kho is celebrated by the Bugun, in which the Phabi priest plays an important role in conducting the ceremony and religious rituals. Songs and dances such as Clown and Gasisiu have a close affiliation with their religion. Feasts durind these festivals mainly includes their traditional foods and Phua(local brew).
The traditional village council of the Bugun (Khowa) is known as Nimiyang (Council of Elders), which looks after every aspect of village life, may it be decision-making, utilization of local resources, conflict resolution or regulating the society. Each family is represented in the Nimiang sessions by its head male member. The traditional village council of buguns are headed by Thap-Bahow (Chief). The Thap-Bakhow is an accepted leader and selected unanimously and not hereditary. There is no strict criterion for selection of the Thap-Bakhow , but a person with economic affluence, social stature, knowledge of customary laws, sound mentality, physical strength and generosity are taken into consideration. He presides over the meetings and sittings of the Nimiyang session. It is customary that only male member possessing above qualities can become Thap-Bakhow.Womenfolk is just a passive spectator and witnesses the proceedings of the Nimiyang sessions only. However, a female member is allowed to represent if its male member is absent.
In 2006, a rare bird Bugun Liocichla
Bugun Liocichla
The Bugun Liocichla, Liocichla bugunorum, is a passerine bird species from the Old World babbler family closely related to the Grey-faced Liocichla. First spotted in 1995, it was described as a new species in 2006 by Ramana Athreya. The description was made without the collection of a type...
was named after the tribe.
Begun (Begün) is also a Turkish tabloid newspaper.