Meet Konyak warriors, the last surviving headhunting tribe of India
When soldiers win a war, they sometimes cut off their opponents’ heads as trophies for victory. This may sound like a tradition practised by ancient Greek soldiers. However, you’d be surprised to learn that an Indian tribe also followed this tradition. Residing in the Mon district of Nagaland, the Konyak warriors are India’s last surviving headhunting tribe who have been existing through thousands of years. The term ‘Konyak’ probably originated from the words ‘Whao’ meaning ‘head’ and ‘Nyak’ meaning ‘black’. This translates to ‘men with black hair’. These proud warriors collected heads until 1967 when the Indian government imposed a ban on headhunting. However, this tribe is not only known for this ruthless practice. These people are well-known for their appearance as well as the Aoling festival.
Konyak warriors and their history of headhunting
Headhunting used to be at the core of the Konyak tribe’s social fabric. During territorial conflicts, the tribe’s fierce warriors went to war and returned with the heads of their enemies. They took a specially designed basket to war to carry the heads. These would then be displayed on the warriors’ walls and doorways. If their tribe was at war, even the women did not hesitate to take up arms. The Konyaks considered headhunting to be a badge of honour and a rite of passage. A young man could graduate to adulthood and be eligible for marriage with a respectable only after completing the ritual of headhunting at least once. According to the tribal people, the practise was critical for crop fertility and the community’s well-being.
Their striking appearance and tattoo tradition
Another intriguing aspect of the Konyak tribe is their striking appearance. What makes their appearance unique? Tattoos! Tattoos represent the Konyak people’s status. To commemorate their bravery, the warriors had their face and chest tattooed. And the honour of tattooing the warriors was always given to the chieftain’s wife. But what if ordinary people wanted a tattoo? Well, they would commonly tattoo their arms.
Warriors could also be identified by their large ear piercings that were fashioned from animal horns. The tribe’s women wear brightly coloured jewellery, beaded accessories and intricately woven shawls. However, the new generation of Konyak people are not very keen on preserving the art of tattoos. Few people still continue tattooing their arms, but it is not as prevalent as it was during the olden times.
The Aoling festival
The biggest gathering of the Konyak people happens during the annual Aoling festival. It is held in the first week of April to ring in the new year. The Konyak people wear traditional clothing and jewellery and perform traditional dances with great pride and enthusiasm during the Aoling festival. The highlight of the festival is the beating of the traditional log drum! The festival concludes with everyone sharing a local rice beer brew!
Where are they now?
Following the ban on headhunting, the next generation of Konyaks accepted Baptist-based Christianity. The tribe now has a population of about 3 lakh people. The Konyaks primarily inhabit Arunachal Pradesh, with a sizeable population in Myanmar as well. Today, the knowledge about their tradition of headhunting is fading into oblivion. Moreover, owing to the influence of modern lifestyle, the Konyak tribe is also seeing a decline in the practise of wearing colourful beaded jewellery and tattooing.