• NGEPPON KONYAK
• DR TARIQ AHMAD SHEIKH

The Konyak customary practices have a very unique position in the entire history of Naga Tribal Cultures and Traditions. For every death the Konyaks have ritual performance beginning from day one till one year is over. The old men of the clan were entitled to perform the ceremonies. The whole clan stays at the village and takes part in the funeral. The death body was kept in a platform and after few days the head was wrenched from the body and kept in an urn. The death body of chiefly class was placed in coffins and were covered with palm leaves and the skull was place in a stone cist outside the village. Konyaks were also known for taking the heads of their enemies in the war. It was a sense of pride to bring home enemy’s head. With the bringing of the head to the village there were number of rituals done by the eldest member of the clan. The head was hung outside the morung and at the time of disposal of the head there was great merry making and celebration in the village. The Konyak warriors were given respect with the number of heads they brought from the war. The greater the number of heads the more respect were gained. The Konyaks were superstitious and believed in Sky God called ‘Gawang’. Before they carried out any works they seek the blessings from Gawang. They believed that he was the creator and destroyer of everything. Therefore, the Konyaks perform several rituals to please Gawang. The Konyaks society was deprived of any misconduct as they fear of punishment by Gawang. There were many other gods but Gawang or Sky God was greatest of all. In this paper an attempt has been taken to understand and analyse the various cultural and early practices prevalent among Konyak Nagas since time immemorial. Also the tribe had their peculiar social taboos that are very famous as their identity. So in the present research all the traditional customs and practices will be analysed.

Konyaks, Naga, Thendu, Thenko, Koongdu, Yimbu, Gawang, Morung, Kinsmen, Neingba.

"Cultural Practices and Social Taboos of Konyak Nagas before the Advent of Christianity.", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 5, page no.450-459, May-2019, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1905A75.pdf

"Cultural Practices and Social Taboos of Konyak Nagas before the Advent of Christianity.", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 5, page no. pp450-459, May-2019, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1905A75.pdf