The Mech Tribe
Sub-Himalayan regions of Assam and West Bengal
The Mech people have a historical settlement in the sub-Himalayan regions of Assam and West Bengal, where they have resided for centuries. They belong to the Mongoloid race and trace their origins to migrations from northern regions into southwestern China. While many Mech eventually migrated further into Burma and Indonesia, a branch of the tribe remained in India.
Today, the Mech community primarily inhabits villages nestled in the forests and hills of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, and Cooch-Behar districts of West Bengal. They are culturally related to other indigenous groups such as the Bodo and Kachari tribes, sharing linguistic and cultural ties.
The Mech people maintain traditional practices linked to their agrarian lifestyle and cultural heritage, which includes craftsmanship in bamboo and cane, weaving, and other forms of traditional arts. Their settlements are characterized by a close connection to nature and a communal lifestyle that reflects their historical resilience and adaptation in diverse ecological settings.
Lineage:
Mongoloid
About
Family Structure
The Mech practice endogamous marriage within their tribe and any of its septs. Women are strictly prohibited from engaging in premarital sexual activity, and any violations of these norms are severely penalized.
Husbands typically hold their wives in high regard, granting them significant authority over household affairs and consulting them on all family and social matters.
Most Mech households are extended, as sons bring their wives into their parents' home after marriage. Fathers play a crucial role in teaching their sons economic skills, while mothers instruct their daughters in household responsibilities.
Economy
The Mech tribe sustains itself primarily through agriculture and sericulture. They lead a modest lifestyle, weaving their own clothing, which is characterized by its simplicity. The weaving process takes place on a traditional loom known as the 'kanti,' constructed from bamboo.
As population in their region has increased over time, the Mech have transitioned to permanent farming practices. They cultivate the land using bulls and plows, with rice being their principal cash crop. In addition to rice, they are skilled in cultivating areca nuts and betel leaves, both of which are potent stimulants commonly used in cultural and social practices.
Sericulture, or silkworm rearing, also plays a significant role in the Mech economy. They rear silkworms to produce silk, contributing to their livelihood and providing them with additional income opportunities. This dual focus on agriculture and sericulture reflects the Mech people's resourcefulness and adaptation to their natural environment, ensuring their economic sustainability and cultural continuity.
Current Population
3,00,000
Religion
The Mech Tribe embraces both Hinduism and Animism, the belief that spirits inhabit non-human objects.
Culture & Traditions
While living under Brahmin influence, the Mech embraced Hinduism and took Hindu surnames for themselves. An ancient tradition claims that the Mech are descendants of the god Shiva ("the destroyer"). Although they have mixed with other peoples, they have retained social class divisions, or septs. These include classes of priests, warriors, and farmers. The divisions are not caste- specific, as there is no prohibition against intermarriage or eating together.
Language:
Boro or Bodo
Festivals
Aai Sagi that is celebrated with much happiness, is a mark to showcase gratitude to almighty for a bountiful harvest.
Aai Sagi is a significant festival celebrated with great joy among the Mech tribe, marking their gratitude to the Almighty for a bountiful harvest. This festival is a communal occasion where Mech families and communities come together to express their thankfulness for the abundance of crops and blessings received from nature.
Practices
According to Mech beliefs, a successful harvest requires worshiping the Great Mother through animal sacrifices and ritual dances. Anything perceived to possess extraordinary power is revered as an object of worship. The Mech traditionally and presently worships rivers, forests, celestial bodies, snakes, and specific plants. Tree worship holds particular significance, as each tree symbolizes life. The Mech believes trees possess souls like humans and animals, capable of transferring their essence.