Indigenous traditional code and ornaments of Koireng (Koren) tribe

Pr Kungsong Wanbe *

Koireng :: An Ethnic Doll display at Mutua Museum's Cultural Heritage Complex, Andro

The Koirengs have a rich cultural heritage as manifested through their beautiful dance and rich music, their festivals, ceremonies, dress, costume and ornaments. Koireng is also rich in cultural heritage such as the names of 12 (twelve) months a year, names of 7 (seven) days a week; 4 (four) directions of north, south, east and west, 4 (four) seasons- spring, summer, autumn, winter and the names of 23 (twenty three ) sports items.

I had presented all these in the 2nd volume of a short history of the indigenous communities of Kangleipak and therefore I will not repeat those items. For today let me present names of Koireng festivals, dances, songs and dresses and ornaments that are to be worn in time and people. Let us see briefly hereunder.

The Koireng dances can be classified according to forms and occasions. It will be more appropriate if the classification is on the basis of forms. There are ten dance forms of the Koirengs.

They are
(I) Kalamchi
(ll) Waipho-chengrut,
(III) Lamchoum or Lamplek,
(IV) WaiIam,
(V) Wakoul Lam
(VI) Khochunglam
(VII) Kersim Lam
(VIII) Nisolam
(IX) Chayar Lam
(X) Lampak.

The Kalamcha and Waiphochengrut are male dance with shield or phau and sword or Chemkoul. The musical instruments used are the drums or Khuong, Dingkidi or small short drum and a horn or Sekhi. These dances are performed during Sadel and Raldel or a war festival after a successful tiger killing and head hunting expedition. Lamchoum is duet dance- one male and one female. If the pace is quickened it is called Lamplek. A female will beat the drum and a man will play Rusem (a Koireng bag pipe). This is performed during festival. Wailam is adopted ftom Wanbe clan. Wakoul Lam or the dance of the Wakoul bird is performed during Khuongthak (the inaugural ceremony of a new drum).

Khochunglam is also almost the same with Kalamchi and Waiphochengrut which is performed during celebrations of hunting ceremony. Musical instruments used are a drum or Khuong, a gong or Sum, singing the song called Khochungla. The more popular form of Koireng dance is Kersim Lam. Both old and young men and women participate. This dance is in remembrance of hunger and death due to famine and head hunting war. Nisolam is a dance of male group. The dancers hold spear and move in a fighting postures against the rival.

Chayar Lam is also a male dance in the form in which a king is served by his servants. Some other dances are Lampak a mixed dance of male and female, Mithei Lam is a housefly dance which is performed by two male dancers and is performed during Khuongthak or inaugural ceremony of a new drum. Kichoum dance is perfumed by boys and girls standing alternately in a row touching his/her shoulders.

Mei-um-Iam or fire circling dance is a dance competition in which every dance can be performed. Besides these, there are many more song and dance forms. The musical instruments used by the Koirengs are not numerous but they serve their musical needs. The instruments are Khuong or drum, Rusem or bag pipe type, Sekhi or horn, Sum or gong, Daar or smaller type of gong, Dingkidi or half drum and Serangdar or a violin-like instrument.

Costumes and dresses of both male and female bad already been referred in the volume II of a short history of indigenous communities of Kangleipak, 2001 and so I will not repeat it again. For today, kindly see from the photos/pictures presented herewith.

Besides their rich culture and tradition, the Koirengs are very developed in the present social movement. In the year 1964, the Koren (Koireng) Youth Organisation (KYO) was formed. The main objective and function of KYO is to train and develop the Koireng Youth in sports and cultural activities. The general conference of KYO is held every year which is accompanied by annual games and sports. There are literary competitions and lectures from learned speakers every night during the conference.

Some years ago, Himat, a Guwahati based journal reported that the Koren Youth Organisation is a strong, active and living tribal organisation of North East India. The recognition given to the Koren Youth Organisation is because of their active developmental service for Koireng people. In the year 1971, a beauty contest was held.

Miss R Yangoi was crowned the first Miss Koireng. The Koren Youth Organisation has set many examples for other communities to follow. Now, beauty contests and fashion shows are very common and popular among other tribal communities too. This is how the cultural and traditional activities of Koireng tribe of old and new develop.