The Mishing people are colorful and easy going. They speaks ‘Mishing’ language which is a branch of Tani Agam. Rice is the principal food. Other food items of Mishings includes vegetables, creepers, edible roots, meat, fish, pork, fowl, etc. Rice Beer is the favourite beverage of Mishing people. T
he Mishing villages are generally situated on the river banks. A Mishing house is basically built in North-South direction on a raised floor and a notched pole ladder is used to mount. The Mishing house is generally an open dormitory without any partition inside the house and with only one door, in front of the house.
Agriculture is the Primary Occupation of Mishing People. They also practise Fishing and Hunting.
The Mishings are broadly divided into two sections, namely – Barogam and Dahgam. They are patrilineal and the descent is through the male-line. Every Mishing village has a Panchayat known as ‘Kebang’ and the head of each Kebang is called ‘Gam’. Marriage by elopement or as it is called ‘Dugla Yamen Lanam’ is one of the chief forms of marriage prevalent in the Mishing society. Mishings bury their dead.
The Mishings believe in super-naturalism and animalism. They worship supernatural beings called ‘Uyus’. The primal man of Mishing is called ‘Abu-jani’. the religious rites are performed by a priest called ‘Mibu’. Mishings prefer to introduce themselves as Hindus and are the followers of ‘Bhakatiya Cult’ – a doctorine having an emalgamation of Mishing and Vaishnavism cum Tantrism. Bhakats owe allegiance to the Satras.
‘Ali-Ai-Lrigang’ is the most colorful festival celebrated by this tribe of plains. This festival is observed in the first Wednesday of a calendar yer ‘Lrigang Lange’ and is concluded with ‘dapan Tipan’. ‘Porag’ and ‘Amrok’ are the other important festivals celebrated by the Mishing tribe of Assam.
The primal man of Mishing is called ‘Abu-Tani’ not “Abu-jani”. And also “Lígang Longé”, not “Lrigang Lange”