Photo gellary

Two Beautiful

Koch Girls

Beautiful Dancing Position Koch girl 

Koch Dancer Couple

Koch Dancer Couple

Beauti Girl in Smart Look

Koch Girls in Cultural Dress

Koch in Traditional & Cultural Look

Koch Boys Performed At Delhi

Koch Girls Attire 

Beauty Of ||Koch Girl||

Girls Cultural  Dancer Group

The Festival of Colour, Rhythm and Taste of North East India’

Seven |Sisters Dance performance (NE India)

Our North east states...One of the culturally most diverse region of world...Indeed an unexplored paradise .7sister's rocks!!!!! In the Front line the tribes of Manipuri ,Mizo,Naga and Koch artists performed at ‘The Festival of Colour, Rhythm and Taste of North East India’ (Songs and Dances of the North East) in New Delhi

Meghalaya Koch Group Dancer

Koch Culture Dance

Dancer Party

Group of Koch Girls

Koch Girls 

Beautiful Koch Girls

Festival of Baghmara, Meghalaya

|Koch Dancer|

Garo Koch Dance

Cultural Festival in Baghmara. 

Garo Koch Dance

                             Dance performed by the main Groups of all Garo which are:
                              1,Ambeng, 

                              2.Atong,

                              3.Akawe,

                              4.Matchi,

                              5 Chibok,

                              6.Ruga,

                              7.Koch,

                              8.Dual,

                              9.Chisak,

                            10.Gara Ganching,

                            11.Kotchu. 

      One of the culturally most diverse region in Meghalaya...Indeed an unexplored paradise. . 

Achik old man with Koch Dancer

Old man which is the captain of the one single dance performer,he  sitting on the Drum( Dama).

Achik and Koch Dancer

Flowers of our Girls Dancer where ready to take a step of Performance.

 Koch with Achik

One by one step position for our Groups Dance.

 

Dance Group of Garobadha St.Dominic School

 

Koch Boy and Girl

Beauties of our Koch Dance Couple

In Photo: Chapra Koch boy & Girl taken the panorama click 

Koch Customery Law:

CHAPTER-I

Clan System

3. Groups of the Tribe:- The Koches confines the groups such as Wanang or Somburi,

Tintikiya, Harigaya or Songga, Chapra ,Satpari or Dalangsa, Margan, Banai or Dasgaya and Shankar. They are based on some cultural and dialectical variations and geographical boundaries of the locations.

4. Clan:-

(i) There are many friendships made among the sub-clans or Nikinis in the groups. The names of the friendships made are found as Simchang,Ajum and Miri in the Koch society. The Koch word for clan may be termed as Saru-Juku.

(ii) Every Koch is a member of one of the above mentioning groups.

5. Nikini or sub-Clan:

(i) There are number of sub-clans called Nikinis within every group who are 

Descended from one mother originally.

(ii) All the Koch Children belong to the Mother’s Nikini or sub-clan since their descent traced through the Mother’s line .They are not traced from the father’s line.

(iii) A set of Nikinis or sub-clans under every groups are numerous. The following are the few of them as mention below.

(a) The Wanang or Somburi group and it’s Sub-clan or Nikinis are: - Kama, Mastop,Bordag,Mangsang,Nokman,Dolpa,Tangwai,Daheng, Lugu, Hamsar,Jigad, Lungchung, Wanang, Rasanji, Maji, Panchibok, Charu, Lembrai, Noldungri, Kentai, Chokle, Banda, Kamanda, Majikallak, Badurungai, Kara, Songdan, Longkrek, Nala, Hajong, Bola, Pira, Rongja/Morja or Nokra, sungchung etc.

(b) The Tintikiya Group and it’s Sub-Clan or Nikinis/Hanjas are :- Kama, Kamakotho, Sipuk, Tikhao, Pajo, Hachuk, Telang, Domba, Durum, Jiri, Taku, Rongrasan, Banai, Jhakua, Hariya, Khola, Nowa, Haduma, Barum, Hakok, Bolla, Danggo, Tima, etc.

(c) The Harigaya or Songga group and it’s Sub-Clan or Nikinis are:- Hari, Barma, Ditala, Nakola, Kangkala, Katrak, Tokbok, Banai, Hakra, Dingdur, Langsa, Harsum, Dongchang, Pakrek, Turni, Maji, Kora, Mandok, Waibara, Hajong, Longkam, Simsang/Somsang etc.

(d) The Chapra Group and it’s Sub-clan are :- Banda, Dusa, Tobar,Tangtangmari, Jhontona, Hacham, Sati, Kamda, Mankin, Khuksi, Dalbot, Chiran, Longka, Banai, Luga, Masutok, Betasingi, kama, Kora, Lamok, Daheng, Pira, Dorung, Doldunga, Siku, Dakhin-Hari etc.

(e) The Satpari or Dalangsa group and it’s Sub-Clan or Nikinis are:- Longkam, Oybara, Dulung, Diruk, Mandok, Marok, Dalangsa, Jotona, Langsa, Kangkala, Masanti, Chandigaya, Kendagaya(Dingdor), Kataligaya, Nikari, Tangoraba, Hachungpar etc.

(f) The Margan group and it’s Sub-clan or Nikinis are :- Kora, Param, Banda, Rongsu, Balihata, Belgasa, Dewa, Nakla, Dhoromchash, Nala, Banai, Bholakora, Kama, Khopay, Khagra, Tobar, Anaytobar, Tarakona, Dusa, Domba, Dakhin, Dhapra/Dahapara, Pira, Bholabanda, Jatbanda, Longkabanda, Luga, Betasini, Baram, Labra, Maji, Masuthop, Lamok, Siku, Sati, Hunrasar, Hachum etc.

(g) The Banai group and it’s Sub-clan or Nikinis:- Maji, Hari, Ampaboni,Manda, Noksi, Komli, Dasu, Dhiru, Dankhin/Dakhin, Khagra, Lalong, Muwa, Pakhra, Banai, Balihata, Chapra, Bakla, Sati, Chanda, Dao, Dewa, Dangkhali, Hachang, Tangkolai, Kendalai, Kendo, Lamok, Longka, Nakla, Wanang, Rabha, Simchang, Tong, Tikumanda, Thikindo, Dusa, Dungabanai, Chamur, Luga, Ditla, Kangkala, Kangka, Chikumanda, Chiku, Chamar, Chulta, Leba, Belgasa, Pajowa, Chandri, Banda, Makra, Ketra, Miri, Dusachamara etc.

(h) The Shankar group and it’s Sub-Clan or Nikinis are :- Turni,Bali, Kendagaya, Dongchang, Hasung, Pakrek, Nakola, Danggo, Hakra, Longkam, Machitok, Dakhin, Bhola, Rongja, Pira, Taku, Hari, Durung etc.

6. Branches of Sub-Clans or Nikinis :-

(a) Names of the Sub-Clans or Branches of their Nikinis

Nikinis/Hanjans under Tintikiya.

(i) Tikhao Jat Tikhao,Assam Tikhao etc.

(ii) Domba Halditopa Domba,Balukchapak 

Domba, Way Domba etc.

(iii) Durum Mai Durum, Khun Durum,

Bangal Durum, Rangamati Durum etc.

(iv) Kama Jat Kama, Maji Kama etc.

(v) Jiri Ajum Jiri, Simchang Jiri etc.

(vi) Hachuk Ajum Hachuk, simchang Hachuk etc.

(b) Names of the Sub-clans or Branches of their Nikinis

Nikinis under Harigaya

(i) Hari Domba Hari, Jinglai Hari etc.

(C) Names of the Sub-clans or Branches of their Nikinis

Nikinis under Wanang

(i) Mastop Dongmar Mastop, Dangchung 

Mastop etc.

(ii) Maji Badurungai maji, Maji kallak etc.

(iii) Kama kama chikam, kama rongwak

Kama mochot.

(d) Names of the Sub-clans or Branches of their Nikinis

Nikinis under Chapra.

(i) Dusa Nog Dusa, Ban Dusa etc.

(ii) Banda Tiku Banda, Jat Banda etc.

(iii) Tobar Banai Tobar, Anay Tobar etc.

(iv) Longka Longka Banai.

(e) Names of the Sub-clans or Branches of their Nikinis

Nikinis under Margan

(i) Banda Bhola Banda, Jat Banda, 

Longka Banda etc.

(ii) Kora Bhola Kora etc.

(f) Names of the Sub-clans or Branches of their Nikinis

Nikinis under Banai

(i) Manda Tiku Manda, Chiku Manda etc.

(ii) Banai Dunga Banai etc.

However, the branches of the sub-clans or Nikinis are not found under Satpari or Dalangsa and Sankar so far.

Natural activities of the Clan, Sub-Clan and Nikini’s Branches:

(a) (i) The members of the same Sub-Clan still feel the relationship among them. 

The members of a Sub-clan are regareded as relations by themselves since there have been blood relations originally.

(b) (i) Actually, the Nikini or Sub-Clan is root of the clan and kindred and thereby 

The foundation of the Koch Social amity is formed.

(ii) The Nikini or Sub-clan play a vital role in selecting the Nokma of their Aking.They are for the conclusive decision in selecting the Nokma.

(iii) A union of the boy and girl of the same Nikini or sub-clan is considered as disgrace and shame to the whole Nikini or Sub-clan.

(iv) The Nikini or Sub-Clan’s duty is to settle the boundary disputes of their Aking land nd other petty disputes, inheritance, succession, quarrels which are occurred among families.

(c) (i) A strongest bond of kinship is developed amongst the branches of a Nikini. 

It depends upon the system of worship within the sub-clan as because the worshiping procedure is different in the manner of Simchang, Ajum, and Miri though the only one Kakmansi Wai within the sub-clan to be worshiped.

For the geographical conditions of their residence the Kakmansi Wai cannot be worshiped and they have to create the divisions among the sub-clans and created the divisions within the Sub-clans.

(ii) Immediate attention to each other is looked on in case death, illness, calamity etc within the branches of a Nikini or Sub-Clan.

8. Natural activities of the Mahari:-

(i) All the male and female members of a Nikini or sub-clan and all the husbands of the women of that Nikini or Sub-Clan are consisted as a Mahari. It is a kinship called Mahari.

(ii) It exercises the same powers and functions of the Nikinis or Sub-Clans of all the male and female members.

9. Natural activities of the Saru-Juku :-

(i) Living together for generations there is development of Kin relationship between two different Nikinis or sub clans of the same group. All co-operation and helping at the time of need of each other are extended acting as members of the same Nikini. It is known as Saru-Juku.

(ii) At the time of natural calamities, sickness, marriage, death etc., the Nikinis or sub-clans of the Saru-Juku are helped materially by each other.

(iii) Daughters of the Saru-Juku can be adopted at the time of need whenever one of the Nikinis asks for it.

(iv) They are allowed to bring marriage proposal as practiced whenever one of the Nikinis wants to provide.

10. Natural activities of the Parsi/Gabi:

(i) The Parsi is consisted by a Woman’s maternal uncles, her elder and younger brothers and sons as well as by the son of a woman’s elder and younger sisters. They are authorised to settle all disputes and controversies amongst the members/families of a Nikin or sub-clan.

(ii) They are to settle all questions of inheritance, adoption, quarrels etc in consultation with the members of family of the Nikini or Sub-clan.

(iii) It is the duty of a Parsi/Gabi to select Nokma after the death of a Nokma of the Nikini.

(iv) If the Parsi/Gabi does not approve the selection of boys as husbands relating to Nokmaship, no marriage can take place.

(v) It is the duty of the Parsi/ Gabi to select the Nokma of the Nikin or Sub-clan and to approve thereby with valid reasons as well as with consent of the parents and members of the Nikinis.

  Koch Customery Law:

CHAPTER-II

Marriage system

11. KOCH Marriage is a holy sacrament and also a Social Contact: A man and a woman who live together without marriage is not acceptable to the Koch society. Marriage is solemnised in accordance with the customary rites by the Koches.

12. Marriage Types: The following are the types of Koch Marriage as cited below:

(i) Social Marriage or Bia/Halang Mata.

( II) Marriage negotiated by a messenger of the concerned village or Hadidabaini Bia /Halang.

(iii) Marriage by Elopement or Hadi-manni bia / Halang.

13. General Laws of Koch Marriage:

(i) Prohibition of marriage within the Nikini or sub-clan is strictly adhered to and no violation is allowed.

(ii) The marriage is not allowed between the children of blood related brothers/ sisters even though they belong to different sub-clans or Nikinis.

(iii) The Marriage proposal is generally extended through a third person called Jahu / Dasu or Mediator.

(iv) The marriage in some conditions requires an elderly marriage couple who are proposed to be as social instructors to serve the marriage functions in accordance with the social practices. (Dhoni Amai Awa).

(v) The marriage requires minimum five legally married women (Airok) who are engaged to perform the marriage ceremony.

(vi) Before marriage taking place, the woman should have completed the age of eighteen years of age and the man should have completed the age of twenty one years.

(vii) Both parties should be in sound mind at the time of marriage. 

(viii) Both parties should give valid consent to the marriage before it takes place.

14. The taboo’s of the Marriage:

(i) One should not marry one’s own grand mother or father.

(ii) A widow cannot marry the elder brother of her deceased husband.

(iii) A man can not marry the widow of his younger brother.

(iv) A man can not marry the elder sister of his wife.

(V) A man can not marry step mother’s sister.

(vi) A man can not marry his brother’s daughter.

(vii) A man can not marry his daughter’s daughter

15. Negotiation and Engagement of the Marriage:

(i) If sexual offence is committed by a boy with a 3rd party after engagement, the boy and the 3rd party is to pay a dai to the engaged girl as fixed by the society.

(ii) If a sexual offence is committed by a girl with a 3rd party after engagement, the girl and the 3rd party must pay a dai to the engaged boy as fixed by the society.

(iii) If sexual intercourse has taken place between the engaged parties, and the boy refused to marry the girl, the boy shall have to maintain her all liabilities till her marriage.

(iv) If the engagement is broken off by a party without any valid reason, the party which breaks the engagement must bear the expenditure of the engagement.

(v) If the engagement is broken out by mutual consent, neither party is to pay any dai and compensation. 

(vi) After the engagement, marriage date is fixed according to convenience of both the parties.

(vii) The marriage proposal is generally extended through a third person called the Dasu/Juku.

(viii) Children born out of the union or marriage other than legally married does not suffer from any social disability. 

(ix) Widow re-marriage is permissible under the Koch Custom.

The Koch Family....]

(i) A people or tribe who call themselves Somburi or Wanang Kocho,Tintikiya Kocho, Harigaya or Songga Kocho, Chapra Kocho, Satpari or Dalangsa Kocho, Banai or Dasgaya Kocho, Margan Kocho and Shankar Kocho is refered by the term “KOCH” as a whole. They are born of Koch parents and follow the matrilineal system, Kinship as per the practices of their custom and tradition irrespective of their settlement places.

(ii) If any Non Koch Mother adopts any Koch sub-clan or Nikini other than her Koch husband’s sub-clan or Nikini and identifies herself as Koch adopting all their traditions and custom recognised by the adopting sub-clan or Nikini may be recognised as a Koch.

(iii) A person who follows the Koch traditions and customs having born of a non Koch mother who adopts any Koch sub-clan or Nikini and a Koch father is also recognised as a member of the Koch Tribe.

(iv) A person who follows the Koch system of matrilineal system, Koch custom & traditions having born of a Koch mother and a non Koch father is also recognised as a Koch.

Koch Customery Law:

CHAPTER-III

The Family system

18. The Family

(i) The Koch Family consists of a husband, wife and their children and the parents of the Husband or Wife.

(ii) The grand-parents are also included in the family.

(iii) Sons or daughter of wife’s younger sisters, elder sisters and Aunts are the other members of the family provided they reside with her family members.

(iv) Children born out of a union other than legally marriage recognised by the society are also the members of a family.

19. The Members of a Family’s Status

(a) Father

(i) The father is the Head of the Family. He is the Patriarch of the house.

(ii) In the case of marriage negotiation, the father represents his relatives with other relatives.

(iii) A husband who is a widower remains as the father of the House staying with his children or without children.

(iv) The father is the manager and administrator in the family matters. He has the authority to dispose family property taking consent of his wife, members, and relatives of her Nikini or sub-clan.

(v) The father has the responsibility to up-bring his children. He is answerable for their activities keeping them under his control.

(vi) In all the relative’s meetings, he represents his family members.

(b) Mother:

(i) The mother is the owner of ancestral properties of her own Nikini or sub- clan and inherited as well as joint properties.

(ii) The Mother decides regarding disposal of all Nikini or sub-clan properties in consultation with her husband and her Nikini or Sub-clan.

(iii) The Koch Society is matrilineal, so descents of all children are traced from their mother’s Nikini or Sub-clan in all social purposes.

(c) Daughter:

(i) Daughters are the important members of a family who are the manager in their maternal properties as well as in the Nikini’s properties provided they reside with their parents.

(ii) Daughters have to look the Nikini’s properties of a family and to look after their parents till death.

(iii) They are to be consulted in the disposal of the Nikini’s properties whether movable or immovable.

(d) Son:

(i) Sons have a right over the family properties provided they have to reside with their parents and may possess any properties given by their parents as gift.

(ii) Role in the settlement of disputes in the family is being played by them as suggested by their parents.

(iii) Sons are important family members by whom a role in the distribution and management of the family properties are being played.

(e) Other Members:

(i) As like the real sons and daughters the sons or daughter of a mother’s sister/ Aunt do not have the same right.

(ii) They may have statements of their view point’s only when he consultation on the family affairs arises.

Inheritance, Gift and Will (Sompati Bhagabhagi) in Koch. The Koch Society is matrilineal. The fact is that they trace their Lineage through the mother, not through the father. The property whether movable or immovable of the sub-clan or Nikini remains within the members of the sub-clan or NIkini.

The whole Koch society in the Meghalaya seize itself with the question of the need on reformation of the existing share or entitlement of the paternal, maternal and joint properties related to inheritance and gift to make itself worthy citizens of Independence India to bring them in tune with the changing social order of the people around them taking in to the consideration of the prevailing circumstance. Be it further noted that the decision taken by the whole Koch Society in Meghalaya keeping in mind for the development of the society regarding share or entitlement of the paternal, maternal and joint properties as valid for necessity to observe peacefully, uniformly with common consent, reasonable means having moral, good conscience without changing the basic structure of the Koch Custom and tradition among them shall be binding upon all the Koches within the jurisdiction of the whole Koch Society in Meghalaya. 

The following resolutions regarding the shares or entitlements as possessed by men and women in the whole Koch Society in Meghalaya are as follows:-

(a) The son/Sons and daughter/ daughters shall be entitled for the share of 25% of the paternal properties if he/she/they is/are lived without his/her/their parents.

(b) The son/Sons and daughter/ daughters shall be entitled for the share of 75% of the paternal properties if he/she/they is/are lived together with his/her/their parents.

(c) The daughter/ daughters shall be entitled for the share of 100% of the paternal properties if she/they is /are lived with her/their parents provided there is/ are no son/sons in the family.

(d) The son/sons shall be entitled for the share of 100 percent of the paternal properties if he /they is/ are lived with his/their parents provided there is/are no daughter/daughters in the family.

(e) The son/sons and daughter/daughters shall be entitled for the share of 25 percent of the maternal properties if he/she/they is/are lived without his/her/their parents.

(f) The son/sons and daughter/daughters shall be entitled for the share of 75 percent if he/she/they is/are lived with his/her/their parents.

(g) The daughter/daughters shall be entitled for the share of 100 percent of the maternal properties if she/they is/are lived with her/their parents provided there is/are no son/sons in the family.

(h) The son/sons shall be entitled for the share of 100 percent of the maternal properties if he/they is/are live with his/their parents provided there is /are no daughter/daughters in the family.

(i) The son/sons and daughter/daughters shall be entitled for the share of 25percent of the joint properties if he/they is/are lived without his/her parents.

(j) The son/sons and daughter/daughters shall be entitled for the share of 75 percent of the joint properties if he/she/they is/are lived with his/her/their parents.

(k) The daughter/daughters shall be entitled for the share of 100 percent of the joint properties if she/ they is/are lived with her /their parents provided there is/are no son/sons in the family.

(l) The son/sons shall be entitled for the share of 100 percent of the joint properties if he/ they is/ are lived with his /their parents provided there is/are no daughters in the family.

(m) In the event of death of the parents, the paternal relatives shall be entitled for the share of 50 percent of the joint properties provided there is/are no son / daughter in the family.

(n) In the event of death of the parents, the maternal relatives shall be entitled for the share of 50 percent of the joint properties provided there is no son/daughter in the family.

(o) In the event of death of the parents, the Brother’s son shall be entitled the properties of the deceased provided there are no son, daughter and adopted son recognised by the society in the family.

(p) In the event of death of the parents, the person who is right to perform the funeral ceremonies etc, of the deceased shall be entitled the properties of the deceased provided there are no son, daughter, brother’s son and adopted son recognised by the society in the family.

(q) In the event of Re-marriage after the death of 1st Husband, son and daughter of the 2nd Husband shall not be entitled the paternal properties of 1st Husband.

(r) In the event of Re-marriage after the death of 1st Wife, the son and daughter of 2nd wife shall not be entitled the maternal properties of 1st Wife.

(s) In the event of Re-marriage after the death of 1st Husband, son and daughter of 1st Husband shall be entitled the paternal properties of 1st Husband.

(t) In the event of Re-marriage after the death of 1st wife, the son and daughter of the 1st wife shall be entitled the maternal properties of 1st Wife.

(u) The son/sons whose right is/are lost to perform the funeral-pyre and ceremonies after death of the parents as recognised by the society shall not be entitled the properties of the deceased parents.

22. Gift:

(i) It consists in the relinquishment of one’s own right in the property and the creation of the right of another and the creation of another man’s right is completed on that other’s acceptance of the Gift but not otherwise.

(ii) Some parents who have both movable and immovable property do practice to gift expressing their wishes to their near-relatives, son daughter and to the person who is not relative. It need not be in writing. Their wishes are generally respected by the family members and Nikini or Sub-clan. It brings moral obligation on the family members for binding this kind of practice. It prevalent among Koches.

23. Wills: It is not practice by the Koches. The Idea of a will is wholly unknown to the Koch Society at present.