Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (IGRMS) is working for salvage and revitalization of vanishing cultural traditions.
In this series, the Horticulture Section and Curatorial Wing of IGRMS with support from traditional artisans of Hajong Tribe of Assam are working towards developing similar surroundings at IGRMS. The space is being developed around the under-renovation Hajong traditional house by planting Tea and Beetlenut trees.
Considering the different climatic conditions of Bhopal and Assam and strict requirements for growth of these trees, the experts from Hajong tribe is selecting the land, its measurements and manure needs. The ground breaking ceremony and plantation will be held on Tuesday.
Notably, the traditional artisans from hajong tribe are renovating the traditional habitat of the tribe present in IGRMS. The house was built by artists from the same village in year 2010.
It is to be noted that the Hajong Tribes are a small tribal group spread across the north east India. The Hajong villages are located on elevated grounds close to wet paddy lands. They build their houses in clusters in the courtyard of the village headman called 'Adhikari'. The house of the Adhikari is the only important house in the village.
Moreover, the traditional houses comprise separate buildings with the walls made of split bamboo and plastered with cow dung. The floors are made of mud. The important sections of a Hajong house are Deo ghor, a room for daily prayer, Akhli ghor i.e. a kitchen, Bhat ghor, a dining hall, Khopra ghor, a bedroom made for married daughter or son, Chang ghor, a granary, Kasri ghor, a dormitory made for guests, Guli ghor, a cattle shed, Dheki ghor, a husking house.