THE NAGA





The Naga
The name Naga embraces a number of Indo-Mongoloid tribes who speak a distant Tibeto-Burmese language and live in the mountain regions of the India-Burma border. Around one million Nagas live in India, although some 100,000 inhabit the Patkai range in northern Burma. Traditionally fierce warriors and, until recently, head-hunters, the Nagas have defended their land against incursions by Indian and Burmese government troops.




Unlike the Was, who took human skulls to safeguard their society and crops, the Nagas killed for personal glory and for the glory of their villages. The practice of head-hunting is believed to have died out in the past twenty years. Although Nagas would not buy skulls like the Was sometimes did, slaves were bought to be decapitated for their skulls and their heads were hung in baskets high in bamboo groves with arrows driven through the eye sockets, to ensure that the ghost would protect the village.

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11 comments:

Kathy M. said...

A fascinating and gruesome post. Thank you for enlightening me.

I wanted to welcome you to my blog. I look forward to following your journey as well.

flying eagle woman said...

so many fierce peoples survived the centuries - thanks for sharing about this one!

martinealison said...

Fascinant le monde...
A bientôt

In the Light of the Moon said...

You have a wonderful blog here,I found myself trying to wrap my head around all the culture.This tribe scares me and I flinched as I read about thier customs.Warmest Regards,Cat

Nuria said...

Is very interesting your blog.Congratulations! :)

toñi said...

You blog is very interesting. Bagan´s photos is very beautifull. I go to make watercolors with them. Thanks.

Elettra said...

with your news enrich my knowledge, thanks

Dyeve said...

Cool. It's exactilly what I lokking for few days before. You have interesting posts. Thank you for sharing with us. :-)

Have a Sunny Day!
Dy,
XO

Joop Zand said...

Very nice pictures....I like them very much.

greetings from Holland, Joop

Rosebud Collection said...

I always find it so interesting to read a blog, from a person that really knows the history..Thank you so much for sharing..

Sumandebray said...

I grew up in the North East of India. We had many Naga friends in college.
It was interesting to know about their head hunting history but I guess this tradition has stoppoed hundreds of years back!

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