MEGALITHS, TYPES AND ITS LIVING TRADITIONS AMONG THE JAINTIAS OF MEGHALAYA, INDIA

Abstract

The Jaintias of Meghalaya (India) are a group of people who are even today known to erect and use megaliths in their regular and ceremonial lives. One of the oldest villages with such traditions is a village named Nangbah in Jaintia Hills District in the state of Meghalaya. The present paper is an outcome of a study done on the megalithic remains in Nangbah village and its associated cultural practices in December 2009-January 2010. Interestingly it is seen that the Jaintias still follow their beliefs and practices connected to these megaliths.