01. There are 200 Tribes in Northeast
Did you know that there are 25 tribes solely in Arunachal Pradesh and about 200 tribes in the entire Northeast? Some of the prominent ones are Garo, Bodo, Khasi, Jaintia, Adi, Nyishi, Angami, Bhutia, Kuki, Rengma and Deori.
02. 800 Endangered Floral Species only in Northeast
Did you know, out of the 1500 endangered floral species, 800 are in Northeast India—according to the Indian Red data book.
03. Mughals were unsuccessful in invading Northeast
Mughals could not invade NE. That’s right. Under the fervour and leadership of Lachit Borphukan, Mughals were troubled with Guerilla tactics and were finally forced to retreat after their defeat in the battle of Saraighat.
04. The land of Black Magic
The Land of Black Magic is reportedly in Assam. It is a village named Mayong, or Maya from a Sanskrit word meaning “illusion”, which is located 40 kms away from Guwahati.
05. Barter system still exists
You read about the barter system in school, but never knew how it works? No problem. Visit the Jonbeel Mela in Assam—where people (once a year), use goods as a means of transaction instead of money. Held in the weekend after Magh Bihu (January), folks from nearby villages sell indigenous and sometimes wild fruits, vegetables, handicrafts, etc., in exchange for goods that are not available/or grow in their villages.
06. Ambubachi mela worships menstrual cycle of Goddess
The world famous religious festival, Ambubachi Mela, celebrates fertility. Held every year at the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati, it is a sight and experience in itself. The reverence of worship at the temple is when the Goddess goes through the very sacred and yet humanly phase of the menstrual cycle. Doors and gates in the temple remain close during these three days, and farmer devotees do not plough their fields. The mythological story is—when Shiva was carrying Sati’s burnt body around the world (out of sheer anger), her degenerated body parts kept falling in numerous places. The Garbhagriha fell in Guwahati, wherein the Kamakhya temple now stands. Fragrance of incense sticks, candles & diyas, camphor and marijuana fill up the air during the mela.
07. The eerie Talatal Ghor
The Talatal Ghar in Sivasagar goes back in the Assam history. The 18th century palace attracts tourists for its maze-like formations (beneath the main palace), which was initially a four-storied structure. Tourists tend to feel eerie when they visit Talatal Ghar. Many people were reported missing, trying to explore the unknown. Tourists are no more allowed to enter the maze.
08. Meghalaya has 3 matrilineal tribes
Meghalaya is probably the only state in India to boasts of having the largest number of tribes with matrilineal societies—Garo, Jaintia and Khasi tribes. In the Khasi Tribe (>1 million people) the youngest daughter inherits, children take their mother’s surname and once married, men live in their mother-in-law’s house. Whoa! While the world talks about men–women equality, the Northeast seems to have been a step with its mother-identity tribes and cultures.Reports say that appeals by youth were made to change this structure to the very obvious patriarchal society, but the elders out rightly refused. Aren’t we happy?
Rhea Hussain
This 22-year-old political science graduate is a self-proclaimed fitness freak with a love for collecting books and smelling them incessantly. A few things that she digs are crunching on ice cubes, binging on momos and travelling. She has an unconditional affection for dogs. Although she says that she does not have a philosophy in life, but she believes that "happiness is subjective, so never compare".
