Reang
ETHNIC divERSITY (Socio-cultural and ethnic diversity)
Reang : tribes of tripura
Reangs are the second largest tribal community of tripura. They are recognized as one of the 75 primitive tribes in India. Numerically as per 2001 Census they are 1,65,103 persons in this State. Reangs are said to have came first from Shan State of upper Burma (now Myanmar) in different weaves to the Chittagong Hill tracts and then Southern part of tripura. Similarly another group entered tripura via Assam and Mizoram during 18th Century.
Reangs belong to Indo-Mongoloid racial stock. Their language have effinity of Austro-Asiatic groups under Tibeto-Burman family. Ethnically Reangs are divided into 2(two) major clans (i) Meska and (ii) Molsoi. Their language is known as "Kaubru" which have a tonal effect of Kuki language though broadly it is Kok-Borok (language of men).
Reangs are still a nomadic tribe and a large numbers among them maintain their livelihood involving Top Hill Jhum Cultivation and other food gathering activities like collec-tion of jungle fruits, leaf, plants, fishing in stagnant water in hill slopes, hunting of wild animals and birds etc. Naturally therefore, Reangs have aministic faith on different deities like Buraha, Bonirao, Songrame, Jampira, Mangisiri, Lampra etc. There are also some female deities like metaikotorma, Tuibuma, Mailoma, Ganga etc. Reangs, thus have believe in spirits and existence of soul. By religion they are Hindus and most of their deities are akin to god and goddesses of Hindu faith. Among Reangs followers of Vaishnavism are found in good numbers.
Reangs traditionally are endogamous and do not marry outside their community. divorce and widow re-marriage are permitted by the Village Council of which Chief is known as "Rai". They cremate their dead beside a river or charra after observing series of rites and rituals and funeral pro-cession.