Kongthong: Difference between revisions
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People of Kongthong belong to the Khasi tribe who speak the [[Khasi language]] - a spoken language. However, Kongthong also has a remarkable tradition of assigning unique whistling tunes as the name to each member of the village.<ref name=m3/> |
People of Kongthong belong to the Khasi tribe who speak the [[Khasi language]] - a spoken language. However, Kongthong also has a remarkable tradition of assigning unique whistling tunes as the name to each member of the village.<ref name=m3/> |
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Kongthong is known for |
Kongthong is known for its unique language, developed as a consequence of its geographical isolation, in which '''Jingrawai Lawbei''' (lit. ''"melody sung in respect of the root ancestress"'' in Khasi language)<ref name=m7/> is assigned as the unique name to each newborn by the mother which becomes the permanent identity of the person.<ref name=m1/> This name, is not a word, instead a unique [[call sign|call name]] or [[Caller tune|caller tune]] in the form of a whistle, i.e. ''"the caller hums a tune, which is a unique "name” that can only be understood by the villagers."'' This naming of babies is a [[Matriarchy|matriarchal tradition]] in which mother repeatedly hums the specific musical tune in the form of whistle, which the growing babies gradually become accustomed to, and this unique whistling tune or ''jingrawai lawbei'' lullaby becomes the unique name and identity of the person. Every child has a unique lullaby or tune as their name which is transmitted among children and adults as the unique name of the person. All villagers call each other using the unique caller tune assigned to them as the name. Each ''jingrawai lawbei'' or unique name of a person has 2 versions, shorter and longer.<ref name=m1/><ref name=m3>{{cite web | url= https://grand-eastern.com/trips/kongthong-village-the-place-of-jingrwai-lawnei | title= KONGTHONG VILLAGE – THE PLACE OF JINGRWAI LAWNEI | website= /grand-eastern.com | date= 14 Sep 2021 | access-date= 14 Sept 2021}}</ref> |
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According to the researcher Piyashi Dutta, who has researched this tradition, ''"Each clan has a [[Matriarchy|root ancestress]]. Each time a tune is created for a child, respects are beign paid to her. Jingerwai lawbei is a melody (jingerwai) sung in respect of the root ancestress (lawbei). There are matrilineal iplications attached to this tradition"''.<ref name=m7/> |
According to the researcher Piyashi Dutta, who has researched this tradition, ''"Each clan has a [[Matriarchy|root ancestress]]. Each time a tune is created for a child, respects are beign paid to her. Jingerwai lawbei is a melody (jingerwai) sung in respect of the root ancestress (lawbei). There are matrilineal iplications attached to this tradition"''.<ref name=m7/> |
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Revision as of 02:23, 15 September 2021
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Kongthong
Kongthong Singing Village[1] | |
|---|---|
village | |
 A living root bridge near the village of Kongthong undergoing repairs. The local War Khasis in the photo are using the young, pliable aerial roots of a fig tree to create a new railing for the bridge. | |
  Kongthong Location in Meghalaya  Kongthong Kongthong (India) | |
| Coordinates: 25°11′N 91°29′E / 25.18°N 91.48°E | |
| Country | India |
| State | Meghalaya |
| District | East Khasi Hills |
| Elevation | 1,530 m (5,020 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 567 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Khasi, English |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| Telephone code | 03637 |
| Climate | Cwb |
| Website | http://cherrapunjee.gov.in/ |
Kongthong, popularly called the Singing Village,[1] is a village and tourist attraction in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya state in the Northeast hilly region of India.[2][3] Kongthong, India's entry for United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)'s World's Best Village Contest,[3] is also aiming for the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status.[4]
Kongthong is a popular tourist destination known for the panoramic picturesque views and the unique culture of inhabitants who use the whistled language "Jingrwai Lawnei" and build the remarkable living root bridges. Tourists and language researchers from several nations, including America, Germany, and Japan flock here.[2][3][4] Each native of the village has a unique name, which is a whistling lullaby, and villagers call each other by whistling the lullaby.[2]
Background
Etymology
Kongthong acquired its popular name the Singing Village from the "Jingrwai Lawnei" - whistling lullaby, where each native has a unique whistling lullaby name for him and her and they call each other by whistling this lullaby.[1][2]
Geography
Kongthong village is a serene and picturesque hill village in East Khasi Hills. It lies uphill in remote area between Sohra (Cherapunji) and Pynursla ridges.[5][3][1][6]
Culture
Demography
Village has a population of nearly 500 to 700 people.[2][5]
Jingrawai Lawbei whistling language
People of Kongthong belong to the Khasi tribe who speak the Khasi language - a spoken language. However, Kongthong also has a remarkable tradition of assigning unique whistling tunes as the name to each member of the village.[1]
Kongthong is known for its unique language, developed as a consequence of its geographical isolation, in which Jingrawai Lawbei (lit. "melody sung in respect of the root ancestress" in Khasi language)[4] is assigned as the unique name to each newborn by the mother which becomes the permanent identity of the person.[2] This name, is not a word, instead a unique call name or caller tune in the form of a whistle, i.e. "the caller hums a tune, which is a unique "name” that can only be understood by the villagers." This naming of babies is a matriarchal tradition in which mother repeatedly hums the specific musical tune in the form of whistle, which the growing babies gradually become accustomed to, and this unique whistling tune or jingrawai lawbei lullaby becomes the unique name and identity of the person. Every child has a unique lullaby or tune as their name which is transmitted among children and adults as the unique name of the person. All villagers call each other using the unique caller tune assigned to them as the name. Each jingrawai lawbei or unique name of a person has 2 versions, shorter and longer.[2][1]
According to the researcher Piyashi Dutta, who has researched this tradition, "Each clan has a root ancestress. Each time a tune is created for a child, respects are beign paid to her. Jingerwai lawbei is a melody (jingerwai) sung in respect of the root ancestress (lawbei). There are matrilineal iplications attached to this tradition".[4]
There are several folklore about the origin of the tradition, which are centred around "how a man when struggling with some goons climbed on a tree. He whistled the names of his friends to come and rescue him, without letting the goons have the slightest idea". This unique way of communicating has attracted tourists as well as language research scholars from across the world.[2]
Religion
Inhabitants practice the traditional religion called Seng Khasi.[2]
Integration
Administration
Village has a middle school up to 8th class.[4] The village falls under the Khatarshnong Laitkroh Development Block[6] and Pynursla Vidhan Sabha constituency, which is a reserved constituency for the Scheduled Tribes (ST).
Economy
The economy of the village is based on the agriculture. Villages climb down the hill for long trips to markets to sell their crops where they also buy weeks worth supplies for the whole village.[2]
Transport
Kongthon, located nearly about 65 km southwest of Shillong,[4] is a remote village which as of 2017 was not connected to a motorable road, hence could be reached only by a 10 km hill track from the nearest motorable village of Thangtim.[2] Cherrapunji (southwest), Khatarshnong (north), and Pynursla (southeast) are the nearby larger towns, and Dawki (southeast, border town, haat and immigration checkpoint on Bangladesh–India border) - all of which are connected by the national and state highways. Shillong Airport (65 km northeast) and Shella Airport (75 km southeast) are the nearest airports. Mendipathar railway station (272 km northwest) is the nearest railway station.
Tourism
Travel to Khatarshnong and then to Kongthong, which winds through hill routes with gorges on one side and cliffs on other, is a remarkable experience. Kongthong is renowned for its natural beauty and unique tradition of assigning a unique singing whistling tune, called the jingrwai iawbei, as their name. The village is surrounded by the hills some of which are knows as the wettest place on the earth with highest rainfall. Area has living root bridges,water falls, and geographical formations such as the Jingkieng Myor a natural stone bridge which connects two cliffs with Wah Sohra River flowing hundred feet under it. Tourist enjoy the Hospitality of the local homestays.[5]
Nohkalikai Falls, Mawsmai Cave, Mawkdok Dympep Valley, Laitlum Canyons, Wah Kaba Falls, Nohkalikai Falls and honey bee farms are important tourist attraction in the area.[7] "The Traveller’s Nest" in Kongthong, with comfortable traditional eco huts, is a community homestay run by the natives which also serves as a base for exploring the region.[5]
UNESCO Heritage and UNWTO's World's Best Village
Kongthong was India's one of 3 entries for United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)'s World's Best Village Contest in 2021.[3] Government of India is also trying to obtain the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status for the village.[4]
Regarding the The Best Tourism Villages title by UNWTO for Kongthong, a spokesperson of the Government of Meghalaya stated,
"UNWTO is looking for the best examples of rural villages harnessing the power of tourism to provide opportunity and safeguard their communities, local traditions and heritage. The initiative of the UNWTO is to identify villages taking innovative and transformative approaches to tourism in rural areas in line with the UNSustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO aims to maximise the contribution of the sector to reducing regional inequalities and fighting against rural depopulation. It also seeks to advance the role of tourism in valuing and safeguarding rural villages along with their associated landscapes, knowledge systems, biological and cultural diversity, local values and activities, including gastronomy'".[3]
Living root bridges
The area is known for the living root bridges including those at Kongthong, Nongriat root bridges are other nearby places, all of which are tourist attractions. Sohra (Cherrapunji) and Elephant Falls are other popular tourist destinations nearby.[5]
Conservation and development
The villagers, who have the concern for the survivability of their unique tradition of jingrwai iawbei tunes as the names of inhabitants,[2][4] have been demanding upgrading of the school and teaching of the whistling language in the school. Silbo Gomero whistling language in Canary Islands with 22,000 practitioners and Turkish bird language with 10,000 practitioners are taught in the school and both were recognised as the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2013 and 2017 respectively. Whereasjingrwai iawbei with only 700 practitioners is not taught in the school. Dr Piyashi Dutta, a published researcher on jingrwai iawbei,[8] highlighted the challenges in documenting this whistling language which is just a floating sound without the lyrics or proper musical scale.[4]
Seva Bharati and member of the Parliament of India, Rakesh Sinha,[9][10][11] have adopted Kongthong village for its development.[12][13]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f "KONGTHONG VILLAGE – THE PLACE OF JINGRWAI LAWNEI". /grand-eastern.com. 14 Sep 2021. Retrieved 14 Sept 2021.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help) - ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Kongthong – A Village in Meghalaya where People Whistle to Communicate". amazingindiablog.in. 10 August 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f "Kongthong among 3 Indian entries for UNWTO 'Best Village Contest': Meghalaya CM". Assama Tribune. 9 Sep 2021. Retrieved 14 Sept 2021.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help) - ^ a b c d e f g h i "Whistling village pins hope on Unesco tag". 18 April 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "Khatarshnong Laitkroh Block population census 2011". Meghalaya Tourism. Retrieved 14 Sept 2021.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help) - ^ a b Villages by Blocks in East Khasi Hills district], eastkhasihills.gov.in, accessed 14 Sept 2021.
- ^ 8 Spectacles That Make Kongthong A Unique Beauty, Oyo, accessed 14 Sept 2021.
- ^ Piyashi Dutta and Kedilezo Kikhi, Folk Practices of the Khasi Tribe: A Description of Jingrwai Iawbei in Kongthong village, Sociological Bulletin, Vol. 65, No. 2 (May - August 2016), pp. 237-252.
- ^ "Sonal Mansingh, Ram Shakal among four nominated to RS". The Times of India. 14 July 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
- ^ "Rakesh Sinha". PRSIndia. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
- ^ "Who is Rakesh Sinha? RSS ideologue nominated to Rajya Sabha by President Kovind". Financial Express. 14 July 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
- ^ "MP kick-starts devp of his adopted village". 9 November 2020.
- ^ "BJP MP adopts villages in Meghalaya, Bihar; sends soaps, sanitary pads". 1 September 2020.
External links
- Folk Practices of the Khasi Tribe: A Description of Jingrwai Iawbei in Kongthong village by Piyashi Dutta and Kedilezo Kikhi in Sociological Bulletin.
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| This article, Kongthong, has recently been created via the Articles for creation process. Please check to see if the reviewer has accidentally left this template after accepting the draft and take appropriate action as necessary.
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