Zeliang Nagas performing the Skylark dance

Zeliangrong people are one of the major indigenous mongoloid communities living in the tri-junction of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland in India. The term "Zeliangrong" refers to the Zeme, Liangmai and Rongmei Naga tribes combined together. The descendants of Hoi of Makuilongdi (Makhel) were divided and were made peripheral appendages to three political entities - Manipur, Naga Hills (Nagaland) and the North Cachar District of Assam. The Zeliangrongs number around four hundred fifty thousand according to 2011 census. Zeliangrong can be classified as an ethno-cultural entity. Racially they are Southern Mongoloid and linguistically Tibeto-Burman.

The ethnonym, or term 'Zeliangrong' is a break up that can be traced to the terms Zeme (dwellers of the warmer) or Mejahme (lower region), Liangmai (men of the North) the original Northerner; on the other hand the term Rongmei (people settled in the south) and finally Puimei (of Puichei). A new terminology Zeliangrong was coined in coherence with the solidarity movement after India's independence.The non-Christian Zeliangs believe in spirits and offer gifts and sacrifices to different malevolent and benevolent spirits of a jungle. Their traditional religion is social and individual in character. It is very practical and revolves round the needs of the people. They believe in fairy. Many have accepted the religion of Christianity. The people continue following some of the traditional practices despite adopting Christianity.

Nagaland is largely a mountainous state. The Naga Hills rise from the Brahmaputra Valley in Assam to about 2,000 feet (610 m) and rise further to the southeast, as high as 6,000 feet (1,800 m). Mount Saramati at an elevation of 12,552 feet (3,826 m) is the state's highest peak; this is where the Naga Hills merge with the Patkai Range in Burma. Nagaland is rich in flora and fauna. About one-sixth of Nagaland is under the cover of tropical and sub-tropical evergreen forests—including palms, bamboo, and rattan as well as timber and mahogany forests. While some forest areas have been cleared for jhum cultivation, many scrub forests, high grass, reeds; secondary dogs, pangolins, porcupines, elephants, leopards, bears, many species of monkeys, sambar, harts, oxen, and bu

Source: Wikipedia

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