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People
Meghalaya is dominated by three principal groups of
people. The Garo in the east and west Garo hills, the Khasi-Pnar in the east and
west Khasi hills and the Jaintia hills. They follow primarily a matrilineal
system. The Khasi group belongs to the Mon-Khemar sub-family of the Austro
group of people. The Garo group is a part of the greater Bodo Kacheri family
both by ethnic group and language.
Their present location enabled them to
maintain many of their traits and characteristics.
The Khasi-Pnar group indicated two prominent sub-groups of the
Khasi and the Pnar. The former occupied the central highlands or the Khasi hills
and the latter towards east, the Jaintia hills. The groups living in the
northern and southern part of the main central highland, section were known by
the terms of 'The Bhoi and War'. They are divided into number of clans and are
essentially differentiated from each other by their location and function they
perform.
Within the four districts of the combined Khasi and Jaintia
hills there are number of dialects. Based on the dialects, the community is
generally divided into five groups namely the Khasis of the central plateau, the
Pnars or Jaintia in the east, the Wars in the south, the Lyngams in the west and
the Bhois in the north.
The Meghalaya plateau is inhabited by three dominant tribes.
These are:
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The Garos in the western section of the plateau
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The Khasis in the central section of the plateau
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The Jaintia in the eastern section of the plateau
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