Tribes

The Noctes:-

Noctes occupy the North – Eastern part of the district. They are well built and medium structure with mongoloid type of facial feature.

Nocte villages are situated on the hill tops and generally thickly populated with cluster of the houses huddle together. They are skill in crafts, and as far as bamboo and cane works are concerned, they decorate bamboo stick with goat hair and various types of basket works reveal their fine artistic workmanships.

Their original dresses consist of loin cloth for men and skirt hanging from waist to knees for women. Modern dresses are also popular now. They put on various ornaments which are part of their dresses. Tattooing was common among women folk but in present days is no longer in practice. The social life the Nocte is divided into two classes; the king (chief) and his kingsmen form one class while the rest from other.

The principal harvest festival of the Noctes is Chalo Loku. Loku, means chasing out of the old season of the year. Held during late November, the festival is the best opportunity for cultural travelers to get a glimpse of the early Noctes.

The Tutsas:-

The Tutsas are not one of the major ethnic tribe inhabited in the eastern part of Tirap district bounded by Barap River and also in the southern parts of the district. The dresses of the Tutsa tribe consist of loin-cloth for men and skirts for women folk. Moreover, the women wear necklace of beads and they are expert in weaving and beads work.

The family system of Tutsa tribal group is patriarchal in nature. The Tutsas have a chieftainship system in their society. The chief of the Tutsas are called Lowang and their chieftainship system follows the law of primogeniture. The chief is the paramount authority of the village. The traditional village council is known as Ngoangthun. The entire Tutsa area is hilly and covered by dense forest. Conventionally they are cultivators and exercise shifting cultivation that is Jhoom cultivation.

There are two major festival of Tutsa tribe and these are – Pongtu Kuh and Ronghun Kun. The harvest festival Pongtu is the principal festival of the Tutsas. Thus, it is evident that the culture and traditions of Tutsa tribe of Tirap district are rich and diverse.