CHRISTIAN LITURGY AND THE TRIBAL IN NORTH EAST INDIA
Keywords:
CHRISTIAN LITURGY, NORTH EAST INDIAAbstract
embracing the sense and spirit of the Christian liturgy. For the tribals. according to
the author. celebration is never an individualistic event. One does not celebrate
anything alone. Celebrations are community events. The community-oriented
character of the people makesit easyand meaningful Forthem to gather Forreligious
events. The celebration of the mysteries of salvation. sacraments. are well received
by the tribals of the North East. Archbishop lala also surveys the significance and
relevance of the celebrations of the sacramentaIs in the tribal setting. He gives
testimony to the use of indigenous symbols in the hfe of the Christians of the North
East. Towards the end of the article. the author delineates certain issues and their
theological and liturgical significance are highlighted.
References
Kamal Narayan Choudhury, Tribal Culture of the North-East, PunthiPustak, Kolkata, 2003.
For a comprehensive early history of the Church in Northeast India, seeChristopher Becker, SDS., The Catholic Church in Northeast India:1890-1915, revised & edited by Sebastian Karotemprel SDB., BeckerInstitute: Shillong, 2007
Joseph Thekkedath, SOB. A History of the Salesians of Don Bosco in India, vol. 1, From the Beginning upt to 1951-52, Kristu Jyoti Publications, Bangalore 2005. George Kottuppallil, 'A Historical Survey of the Catholic Church in North-East India from 1627 to 1983, in M.e. George, (ed.) Centenary of the Catholic
Church in North-East India 1890-1990:A Souvenir, Archbishop's House, Shillong, 1990, pp. 7-55.;Jacob Aluckal, The Catholic Church in NortheastIndia, Archbishop's House, Shillong, 2006.
See Aloysius Hemrom, SDB., Liturgical Contribution of the Salvatorians during the years 1890-1915 to the Catholic Church of Northeast India: ALiturgico-Historical Study on the Archival Sources, unpublisheddoctoral dissertation, PIL, Rome, 2004.
Kathryn Ann Piccard, 'Images of God in Liturgy', in Peter E. Fink, (ed.) The Dictionary of Sacramental Worship, = A Michael Glazier Book, The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota, 1990.
See for instance, Dr. Angeline Lotsuro, MSMHe., The Nagas: A Missionary Challenge, Vendrarne Institute Publications: Shillong 2000. pp. 19-20; H.O. Mawrie, U Khasi bad la ka Niam (The Khasi and his religion), RiKhasi Press, Shillong 1973.
Cf. Stephen Neill, A History of Christian Missions, Penguin Books, Harrnondsworth, Middlesex, 1964.
The latest contribution, as far as is known now, is the Catholic The New Testament in Nokte (a language of a major tribe in East ArunachalPradesh), translated masterfully by a postgraduate linguistic scholar belonging to the Nokte tribe itself.
See, for instance, Francis Kanjirathinkal SOB., 'Rite de Passage of the Lotha Nagas', in Jose Kuruvachira SDB-Francis Kanjirathinkal SOB (editors)
Readings in Cultures of Northeast India, Vol. 1, Salesian College Publications: Dimapur, 2007.
Homiwell Lyngdoh Ka Niam Khasi, Major PRT Gurdon, The Khasis, Cosmo Publications, New Delhi, 1907;reprinted 1975.
Kameswar Brahma, A Study of Socio- Religious Beliefs, Practices and Ceremonies of the Bodos (With special reference to the Bodos of Kokrajhar District, Punthi Pustak, Calcutta,1992.
III R.T.Rymbai, 'Christian Missions and the Indigenous Religion of the Khasi-Pnar', in Dr. Soumen Sen, (ed.) Religion in North-East India, UppalPublish House, New Delhi, 1993.
R.T. Rymbai, 'Some Aspects Christian Missions and the Indigenous Religion of theKhasi-Pnar', in Dr. Soumen Sen, (ed.) Religion in North-East India, Uppal Publish House, New Delhi, 1993.
R.T. Rymbai, 'Some Aspectsof the Religion of the Khasi-Pnars', in Sujata Miri, ed. Religion and Society of North-East India, Vikas Publishing House Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, 1980.
"The differences between Christianity and the Khasi- Pnar religion are many. For instance, the Christian once he has sinned
can always pray to Jesus and be forgiven, whereas a Khasi, if he commits ka pap ka sang, can never be forgiven by God or society"II Cf., for example, P.R.T. Gurdon, op.cit.
Cf. Ka Lynti Bneng, (Khasi Prayer and Hymn Book).
see, for instance, for the Bodes and the Khasis Karneswar Brahma, pp. 70-7S; PRT Gurdon, op. cit., 132-154. Julius L. R. Marak, Balpakram: The
Land of Spirits: Gam Mythology, Akansha Publishing House, New Delhi, 2000.
See Sohblei (Dr.) S. Sngi Lyngdoh, SDI3., Ka Jingmait Tyrut bad kaJingdonkam jong Ka (ad experimentum text), Archbishop'S House,
Shillong, 2007.
I~ When one visits the Sacred Heart Theological College, one is struck by the many people who flock to a veteran local missionary, Fr. S. Sngi Lyngdoh, SDB, for prayer over all kinds of sick people, for the Pyneh Rngiew of those who have suffered because of psychological shock of
any kind and for deliverance from evil powers. I. Cf. for instance, George Maliekal, History of the Catholic Church amongthe Khasis.
Cf. Sr. Philomena Mathew, MSMHC., 'The Portrait of a Touring Sister', in
Angeline Lotsuro MSMHC-Philomena Mathew, MSMHC, (edd.)Touring Sisters in North East India In the Area of Evangelization and Development, Archbishop'S House, Guwahati, 200S.
I. See for instance, Abhijit Choudhury, "Descent of the 'Seven Huts': Folk Narrative as Structure of the Khasi Pnar Consciousness", in Sukalpa Bhattacharjee and Rajesh Dev (editors), Ethno-Narratives: Identity and Experience in North East India, Anshah Publishing House: Delhi, 2006,
Nazarius Lakra, SDB., 'Adivasis of Assam: Their Cultural History and Festivals with Special Reference to Karam', in Jose Kuruvachira SDB
and Francis Kanjirathinkal SDB (editors), Readings in Cultures of Northeast India, Vol. 1, Salesian College Publications: Dimapur, 2007.
SUKALPA BHATI ACHARJEE - RA]ESH DEV, (eds.) Ethno-Narratives: Identity and Experience in North East India, Anshah Publishing House, Delhi, 2006.
WALTER FERNANDES (ed.), The Indigenous Question: Search for an Identity, Indian Social Institute: New Delhi, 1993; V.K.
Nuh, Struggle for Identity in North-East India: A Theological Response,
Spectrum Publications, Guwahati & Delhi, 2001.
Cf. Anuradha Dutta & Ratna Bhuyan (eds.), Genesis of Conflict and Peace; Understanding Northeast India: Views and Reviews, 2 vols., Peace
Studies, OKDISCD & Akansha Publishing Houses, New Delhi, 2007.
Sebastian Karotemprel, 'The Future of the Adivasi Community in Assam and the Role of the Christian Churches', in SEBASTIAN KAROTEMPREL and B.DUTI A ROY (eds.) Tea Garden Labourers of North East India: A Multidimensional Study on the Adivasis of the Tea Gardens of North
East India, Vendrame Institute: Shillong, 1990.
Cf. SHELA BORA & S.D. GOSWAMY (ed.) Youth at the Crossroad: A study of North East India, DVS Publications: Cuwahati, 2007.
