The Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (IGRMS) successfully completed the re-construction of the traditional Hajong House in its open-air exhibition premises.
Seventeen traditional artists from the Hajong community of Joyrampur Village in Dhemaji District, Assam, led by Sri Sanjiv Kumar Hajong, played an instrumental role in reviving this important cultural exhibit. The team arrived at the IGRMS campus on September 5, 2024, and, within a span of 28 days, meticulously completed the reconstruction of the traditional house, which stands as vital of the Hajong community's traditional architecture and cultural heritage in the museum premises.
The culmination of this effort was celebrated with an inaugural ritual , marked by the preparation of a Dev Haali, a sacred and symbolic space used for invoking gods and goddesses. Positioned towards the north-eastern side of the reconstructed house, the raised earthen plinth served as a focal point for the ceremony, which is a cornerstone of Hajong spiritual life. The ritual also involved the invocation of ancestral spirits, reflecting the deep cultural and spiritual ties embedded in the community's practices.
The event was attended by Prof. Amitabh Pande, Director of IGRMS, along with museum officials and special invitees, including officials from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), who witnessed the ritual and the inauguration. Among the distinguished guests was Sri Prem Chandra mourya Income Tax Commissioner of Bhopal, who joined the celebration of this significant cultural milestone.
This reconstruction project exemplifies the museum's mission of fostering community participation in preserving and promoting indigenous cultural expressions, with the Hajong house serving as a living testament to the enduring traditions of the Hajong people. Bamboo and cow dung are used on the walls of the houses. The Hajong house has special parts like Deo Ghor (a room for daily prayers), Akhil Ghor or kitchen, Bhat Ghor (a dining hall and bedroom), Khopra Ghor (a bedroom for a married daughter or son), Chang Ghor (grain warehouse), Kasari Ghor (guest room), Guli Ghor (animal shed), etc.
