Tai-Khamyang Heritage Society, Chalapothar 
An online portal of Tai Khamyang people residing in the village of Chalapothar Shyam Gaon (Khamyang), Via-Lakwa, District-Charaideo, PIN-785688, Assam, India

1. Village & Dwellings:- The great Tai civilization is water rice civilization. The Khamyang people use to live with abundant cultivable land, water and other natural resources. All the Khamyang villages are located near the bank of rivers and fertile land. The Chalapother and Dishangpani Khamyang village as such are situated in the bank of Dishang river and the Pawoimukh village is on the bank of Pawoi and Burhi Dihing river. The Tai Khamyangs traditional house is called Houn Hang, which has similarities with the other Tai race of Assam as well as South East Asia. The Houn Hang (Chang ghar) is a platform house made up of bamboo and timbers. The house is constructed facing south and west directions. But presently due to high maintenance cost of raw materials there remains only a few traditional houses in each Khamyang villages. In every Khamyang house there is a main pillar name as Phi Lam (Phi-Deity, Lam-Pillar). They believe that their ancestors and home deity resides here. The idol and pictures of Lord Buddha are also being kept near the Phi Lam. In every morning and evening the senior member of the house offers flowers (Mokya), candles (Simi), and incense (Hom) and recites Khamcing (Buddha Vandana) for peace and harmony.

2. Occupation & Educational Attainment level among the Tai Khamyangs:- Historically the Tai Khamyang is an agrarian civilization. Presently Approximately 80% of the population is involved in cultivation of rice. The educational attainment level of the community is very poor. Most of the educated youth are remaining unemployed despite of having ST (Hills) Certificates. Moreover, majority of the youths could not pursue higher education due to poor economic background.

3. Customary Law:- To maintain discipline and to settle any kind of dispute in the society the Khamyang community had a village council viz., the “. The village council was comprised of crucial nine clans of the Khamyang community viz., Tungkhang, Wailung, Thaumung, Chowhai, Chowlu, Pangyuk, Chowlik, Chowsong, Phalek etc. But now this system is no more and it is replaced by the Village Management Committees or the Gaon Sabha. The Gaon Sabha is comprised of village Head Man or Chowman, members and a Chere (Pathok) for religious activities. Presently the Gaon Sabha works as a village administration. The number of crimes and court cases are almost nil in Khamyang Society.

4. Language:-The Tai Khamyangs originally spoke Tai Khamyang language with their kinsman but gradually lost the use of their mother tongue and using Assamese script for reading and writing. Their language falls under Chino-Siamese family. The authentic Tai Khamyang cultural and religious script and language is still retain and used by the old generation of Pawoimukh Village. According to a report given by UNESCO the Tai Khamyang language is not totally dead but and falls under the (UNESCO) fifth category.

5. Religious Practice and Cultural Festivals:-The Khamyangs are follower of Theravada (Hinayana) sect of Buddhism. In their religious sphere a mixed combination Buddhist religious belief and ancestor worship(Animism) is found. Every Tai Khamyang village have a Buddha Vihara (Kyong) with beautiful pagodas, Buddhist art, sculptures, scripts and religious books. The various religious/cultural festivals observed by Tai Khamyangs are namely., Poi Sangken, Poi Mai-ko-sum-fai, Poi-noun-houk (Buddha Purnima, Barsha Bash (Poi-Chatang) / Monsoon Fast, Poi Khaw Wa, Poi Akwa, Poi Patesa(Kalpataru), Poi Lu Fra, Poi KantaSangha, Poi Lu Kyong and Poi Kathin Sivara etc.

6. Food Habit and Livelihood:-The Tai Khamyangs take three meals a day which consist of rice (Khaw) and vegetables. They eat meat , fish and eggs but as a follower of Buddhism rearing animals or poultry farming is strictly prohibited. Beside rice, some other items like , Khaw hu, Khaw Lam (banboo rice), Khaw Tek, Khaw Puk, Khaw Pong (Puff rice), Phak Tam (Pitika)and varieties of Phak Tom (Boiled Vegetables/Meat) are relished. Agriculture is the main source of livelihood but presently most of the educated Khamyang youths are also engaged in different services.

7. Traditional Attires and Ornaments:- The Tai Khamyang women are efficient weavers. They used to weave their traditional attires both for male and females. A Tai Khamyang woman wears Sin (Mekhela), Pha Ho (Head turban), Sai kap (Waist belt), Pha Mai (Piece of cloth like Chadar) , Long Wat (Riha) and Chu (Shirt/Top) with beautiful golden and silver ornaments like Longshop (Ring), Wen (Bangle), and Wen Tang and Ken Ho (Ear ring). The traditional attire of Tai Khayang man Chu are and Fa Lung (Lungi). Beside their attires the Khamyang womens also weave some other beautiful handloom products like Thung (Bag), Pha Chet (Gamusa) and Phachet own (Hand Kerchief) .

8. Music and Dance:-The Tai Khamyangs have their own traditional songs (Mokham Tai) and dance (Ka). Popular musical instruments are Kong (Drum) , Sen and Jamong(Bell). Kathung Tai is the most common dance form among all the Tai people living in Assam.

9. Marriage System:- The Tai Khamyangs basically favour monogamy. Regarding marital union clan exogamy is permitted among twenty existing clans of Tai Khamyang. Presently inter cast marriage is also found and welcomed by the society. Two types of marriages take place among the Tai Khamyangs known as Pan own and Pan Lung. The system of bride price was prevalent but now in most cases it is symbolic. Any kind of social evils like dowry are restricted.

10. Status of Women:- The Tai Khamyang is a patriarchal society but having equal rights for both men and women. The status of women is even higher than women belonging to general cast. In a Tai Khamyang society an woman is given equal freedom in decision making and opportunities in the field of spiritual development . She takes active role in social and religious gathering. In Buddhist societies women have been an equal part since the Buddha's first attainment of enlightenment. This implied that Buddhist women are equally able to develop and purify their minds and realise the bliss of as well as men. This fact is amply proven by the testimonies of the Theris (Nuns) during the Buddha's time. The modern Tai Khamyang women are educated and working in various fields keeping balance with professional, personal, religious and social life.

11. Bioresource Utilization:- The Tai Khamyangs have Indigenous Knowledge (IK) of bioresource utilization. Traditionally the community is using different types of herbs, and herbal medicinal plant,forest vegetables and organic dying plant. Some names of traditional spices are- Pokhoi, Pokhoi hom, Ling, Piki and makat etc. However, Tai Khamyang women usually extract organic dye from plant named as Ton Hom (Scientific Name-Baphica canthus Cusia-Nees-Breek, Faimily-Acanthaceae) and a tuber(Stephenia hernandifolia walp) a tuberas natural resin. The combination of the plant and the tuber give a bluish black colour which is traditional colour of Tai Khamyang Sin (Mekhela).

12. Cultural , Religious Institutions and Societies:- In the Tai Khamyang society a mixed combination Tai culture and Buddhist religious tradition is observed. Buddha is the soul of the community. Important decisions of the society is being taken in (Meetings) held in . Speaking about social organizations the and (Tai Khamyang Cultural Society) are taking special initiative for revival of Tai Khamyang language and cultural enhancement. The important strategies taken so far by the cultural organizations can be mention as;

• Workshop (Pang Son) on Tai Khamyang language, song and dance. 

• Frequent visit to Tai Khamyang speaking village i.e., Pawoimukh of Tinsukia. 

• Corporation with other Tai speaking communities of Assam and Shan State of Myanmar. 

• Taking technical help from foreign linguistic experts. 

• Published Tai Khamyang primer, grammar and short story book. 

• Observation of Poi Phung Mao Sao Tai Khamyang (Tai Khamyang Youth Festival) to encourage the youths for revival of language and culture. 

• Recording of Tai Khamyang language electronic dictionary is in progress.

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