Traditional House - Type Of Rongmei Tribe

Thongam Ingomacha *

A house from the Documentary film 'The Zeliangrongs' by Ronel Haobam

History of human shelter is an old as the history of human evolution. Man started taking shelter in order to protect themselves from extreme climatic conditions and attack by wild animals. House is considered as one of the basic human needs.

As human existence progressed house type also goes on developing. Different ethnic groups living in different parts of the world made their houses based on the resources available on their surrounding environment. They especially design their houses to meet the demand made by the environment and climatic condition of the place they are residing. Every ethnic group has their own unique house type. The design and pattern of house also reflect the customs and beliefs of the people.

Here, I have a details report on the traditional house type of Rongmei tribe residing at Longmai village which is at Tamenglong district of Manipur.

Rongmei tribe has their unique traditional house type based on their cultural beliefs. During my research work I do not come across any traditional house type at the village. So I collected the information from village elders who have personally lived and seen such type of house during their life time. Among those elderly persons Khullakpa (Village chief) of Longmai village whose name is Ruganagpu Gangmei was the best informant regarding traditional house type. He is 96 years old. He also had a good knowledge about design of the house and rituals and ceremony performs in connection with the house.

The traditional house can be broadly divided into:-
a) Common people house
b) Rich people house

a. Common people house: - The common people house is a simple house type which is generally built by the people who are not rich enough to build a rich people house. To build a common people house we need materials like wood, bamboo, thatches, and cane (lee) etc. Place for building the house is depended on the choice of the owner.

The villagers preferred to build the house during dry seasons. Traditionally Rongmei tribe built their houses facing east direction. They start building their houses after a rituals conducted by Mooh (Diviner). The Mooh prays to the supreme deity Tinkouraguang. Zoupan (a form of oblation) is performed by him with pouring of rice bear. During Zoupan sliced ginger is placed on the right side of a laa (plaintain leaf) which is known as Khuloutamba.

A- Verandah (Keisu),
B- Sleeping Room (Keijao),
C- Kitchen (Keinung)

a- Fire place (Meimang),
b1- Plank use as bed (Langom),
b- bed (Langphai)

b- (1-3) Hanging rack of 3 tiers,
c- (1-5) wall rack of five tiers.

The ground plan of a traditional common people house is rectangular in shape. It comprises of two rooms a sleeping room which is locally known as Keijao and a kitchen which is locally known as Keinung. Keijao is at the front part of the house and Keinung is at the back part of the house. Keijao is bigger in size than that of Keinung. This room is also provided to the traveler (Khullanba) or guest. The Keijao has a plank on the northern side of the house which is locally known as Langom. The Langom is used as a bed.

There is a fire place on the south-eastern side of the room which is locally known as Meimang. The main purpose of having Meimang is for lighting the room and warming the room during winter. A large mortar with three holes, which is used for pounding rice and grain, is also placed at the western part of the Keijao.

Inside Keinung or kitchen, there is a large fire place or Meimang at the center of the room. Just above the Meimang there is a hanging rack of 3 tiers where roasted meat or fish etc. were kept. The Keinung is also used as bed room. Two beds are placed, one on southern and one on the eastern part of the room. This bed is locally known as Langphai. At the western part of this room there is a large wall rack having five tiers. This rack is used for keeping kitchen utensils.

Granary which is locally known as Shap plays an important role in the people’s lives. The place where the granary is built is always a chosen one. Granary or Shap is placed outside the house. It is built in a place where it is free from getting moisture which may spoil the stored grains and from wild and domestic fire. The Shap is built on a wooden platform above the ground about 3 to 4 feet. The people consider the Shap very important because food grain and rice are stored for the whole year.

House inauguration:-

A simple way of inaugurating the house is performed by Mooh (the Diviner) of the village. He prayed to the supreme God Tinkouraguang and offering of rice bear (Zoupan) is also performed. After that the family members enter the house.

b. Tarangkai (Rich people house):-

The house built by rich people is locally known as Tarangkai. To built a Tarangkai materials like thatches for roof; Thangchi (a type of wood) for pillar; Leihou (a type of wood) for other part of the house; bamboo, lee (cane) for roofing, paints for painting front design and plank wall of four sides and doors.

Place for building the house is same as common people house type; depend on the choice of the owner the house is usually built during the dry season.

The Rongmei tribe has a traditional believed of facing the house towards e ast. Here in building the Tarangkai they followed the tradition of facing east. The building of the houses is initiated by rituals usually conducted by elderly man or the Mooh of the village. The ritual includes the prayer by the Mooh to the supreme God Tinkouraguang and offering of rice bear. During the offering sliced ginger is placed on the right side of a laa (plaintain leaf) this part of the ritual is also known as Khuloutamba.

Different steps involve while building a Tarangkai:-

i. Muliang:- Muliang is the first step for starting construction of Tarangkai. A grand feast has to be offered by the owner of the house to be build to the entire villager. In this grand feast different curries made up from different vegetables and meat are served along with rice bear. After the Grand feast the construction of the house is started.

ii. Banlu:- Banlu is the second step in building Tarangkai. In this the construction is almost completed except the front design. The village elders perform rituals for the welfare of the family who is constructing the house. Animals such as cow/buffalo/ mithun etc. are killed and offer grand feast to the villagers. Pakhang phan and Leisha phan express joy and happiness by merry making.

iii. Tarangkai:- Tarangkai is the third and last step. In this stage the construction is completely built with front design. Same ritual and offering is done as in Banlu.

A- Verandah (Keisu),
B- Sleeping Room (Keijao),
C- Kitchen (Keinung)

a- fire place (Meimang),
b1- plank use as bed (Langom),
b- bed (Langphai)

c- (1-3) Hanging rack of 3tiers,
c- (1-5) wall rack of five tiers.

Ground plan of Tarangkai is same as that of common people house but the size is bigger as compare to common people house. For Tarangkai, beds (Rang Khuang) are made up of u-yung (a type of wood) because this wood is strong enough and feel warm. Same as that of common people house granary for Tarangkai is also placed outside the house in chosen place which is safe.

Outside view:- Height of a Tarangkai is about 4 lam (1lam= 1arm span of fully grown man which is approximately about 4 to 5 feet) and length of a Tarangkai is about 10 lam.

Front door and back door is locally known as Keijang and Keilak respectively. There are two doors in front side of a Tarangkai one is used by the members of the household and another one is used by the members of the Pakhang/Leisha phan when the house become the office of Khangchu/Luchu. Usually the villagers make the office of Khangchu/Luchu in such family who can effort of building the Tarangkai.

Different form of decorative painting found in front part of a Tarangkai:
i. Bee -Locally called as Khoiaibung
ii. Cow head -Locally called as Guaih pi
iii. Moon and Sun -Locally called as Bu and Neih respectively
iv. Rainbow -Locally called as Muangsing
v. Figures of dancing -Locally called as Baanzoi
(Both male & female)
vi. Pattern of a traditional Rongmei cloth called Langmu Pheisoi. The pattern is known as Thangka.
vii. Tortoise -Locally known as Guaihphuap to give the family members a long life
viii. Hen -Locally termed as Ruaihdu

Inauguration:- The inauguration day is performed on the day when the construction is completed. On this day the village elders pray to supreme God followed by Zoupan (traditional offering of rice bear to God). Rice bear, Deccan hemp (locally called as Gangkhiyang), a type of bean (locally called as Karu) are boiled and distributed to elderly persons of the village. On the next day Chakhou Yoo (a type of rice bear) which is a very special one is offered to the elderly people of the village.