UpdateBot at 05:50, 6 February 2022

2022-02-06T05:50:59Z

New page

{{More references|date=October 2008}}
{{Infobox ethnic group
| group = Sakachep
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| population = Approx. 5000
| region1 = [[Northeast India]] {{flag|India}}
| pop1 =
| ref1 =
| languages = [[Khelma language|Sakachep]]
| religions = Predominantly [[Presbyterianism]]
| related = [[Mizo people|Mizo]] {{·}} [[Hmar people|Hmar]]{{·}} [[Chin people|Chin]] {{·}} [[Kuki people|Kuki]]
| footnotes =
}}
[[File:Khelma (2).jpg|thumb|Khelma, showing the women's distinct style of dress]]
The '''Khelma''', also known as the '''Sakachep''' are one of the old [[Kuki people|Kuki]] tribes of northeastern parts of India.

The Sakachep tribe is one of the small tribes in the Old Kuki community. The live in the several areas of [[Assam]], including [[Dima Hasao district|Dima Hasao]], [[Karbi Anglong district|Karbi Anglong]] and [[Khasi and Jaintia Hills|Jaintia Hills]]. They also can be found in [[Nagaland]], in [[Peren district|Peren]], and in [[Mizoram]] and [[Tripura]].

== Culture ==
Their life style and habits closely resemble the other tribes of the Chin-Kuki people. Among the inhabitants of the Dima Hasao district, the Sakachep are one of the smallest communities. The Sakachep are similar in language, customs and traditions to the [[Biate people|Biate]] and [[Hrangkhol people|Hrangkhol]]. They used to cremate their dead like the neighboring plains native people in the past.<ref name="Soppitt">{{Cite book| title=A Short Account of the Kuki–Lushai Tribes of the North-East Frontier (Districts Cachar, Sylhet, Naga Hills, etc., and Dima Hasao) With An Outline Grammar of the Rangkhol-Lushai Language and a Comparison of Lushai With Other Dialects. (Reprint, 1976) | author=Soppitt, C. A. | year=1893 | publisher=Firma-KLM Pvt. Ltd.| location=Culcutta}}</ref> However, 80% of the population are Christians today.{{citation needed|date=April 2012}} They are entirely dependent on agriculture for their livelihood.{{citation needed|date=April 2012}}

The Sakachep also celebrate different festivals which are connected with the worshiping of different gods and goddess during the year. Saakthar, Rubu-khat, Parsem-kut, Inmuthung and Rubuthum are such festivals. Rubuthum is the most important of all the ceremonies of the ''Khelmas'' during the time when they used to worship nature. It is believed that one has to perform the ceremony to bring peace in the family. Parsem Kut is one of the biggest festival, celebrated in the month of April. The ''Khelmas'' have a good number of folk songs for different occasions, which are generally slow tuned.

The Sakachep are known for their distinct style of dress. The women wear strings of different beads and coins around their neck. Today, the majority of the young boys and girls of the villages wear pants, shirts and traditional [[Mekhela chador|Mekhela]]. The older men simply wear a [[Dhoti|dhuti]].

The traditional social administration of the Sakachep is known as the ''Halam'', which is headed by a ''Kalim'' and ''Kabur''. In the Khelma community, a young man has to serve his father-in-law for four years before he is allowed to take his wife home. This system is called the Maksa.

==References==
<references />

==External links==
*[http://nchillsassam.com/people_culture.html Assam people]{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

{{Hill tribes of Northeast India}}

[[Category:Tribes of Assam]]
[[Category:Social groups of Assam]]
[[Category:Kuki tribes]]
[[Category:Scheduled Tribes of Assam]]

Khelma people - Revision history

UpdateBot at 05:50, 6 February 2022