The People

Customs of Lakher Society

Birth

The Lakhers would perform sakia ceremony to beget children. The pregnant woman and her husband would have to follow certain restrictions - like not participating in some sacrifices, crossing a river or touching a corpse.

Inheritance

The Lakher system of inheritance was patrilineal. The eldest son would inherit the property of the father. Generally, he would share the property with his youngest brother. The sons in the middle or the daughter or the widow would not get any share. In the absence of sons, the property would go to the brothers-eldest and the youngest brothers. Failing brothers, the next in line of succession were cousins, distant relations and fellow clansmen.

If a person died leaving behind a widow and minor children, the widow would take care of the property and the children. In case of the widow remarrying anyone except the brother of the deceased, the property and the care of the children would vest in the brother of the deceased.

 In heritance was compulsory. A Lakher did not have any right to make any will regarding the disposal of his property after his death. The line of inheritance was determined by custom and it could not be changed.  Nor was it left to one to refuse an inheritance. Along  with inheritance went the obligation to discharge the debts and obligations of the person from whom inheritance flowed.

Feasts

The Lakhers used to give feasts which would follow a certain order - the entire series of feasts together was known as Khangchie.  The first feast was called Phidong. When a sow would be killed in the morning and the pork along with Sahma (rice beer) would be partaken with the invited friends.  After about 3 months of phidong, one would give the next feast called vothawthi when a boar would be killed in the evening and a large number of people would be invited to have the meat and beer. The young boys and girls of the village would amuse the gathered people with songs and dances. The party would go on for the whole night and would be started afresh next day in the morning with more beer, meat and rice. In the third feast called vori a sow would be sacrificed.  Only the clans men would participate and the feast would be over in one night.

The fourth feast was called seichong when a mithun calf would be killed after sunset. The villagers would participate in the feast for two nights and two days. The fifth feast was called beibei.  For a  week before the feast the young boys and girls of the village would help the person giving the feast in collection of fire wood for cooking the meat and otherwise prepare for the mood of the feast by songs and dances. They would be rewarded by a pig which they would eat with lots of beer. The sacrifice for the feast would consist of two bull mithuns and three pigs. The feast would last seven days when the entire village would eat, drink and be merry. The next feast was performed when a tiger would be killed by any one of the village.  The feast was called chakei.  It would involve killing a boar on the first day and bull mithun and another pig on the second day. Only men would participate in the fest. The men would dance around the head of the killed tiger  which would be placed on a platform in a road in the village. After the dance, feast would start which would continue for a day.  The last or the culminating feast was called Khangchei.  To start with, a cow mithun would be killed and the feast  would last three days. Thereafter the boys and girls would collect firewood and would get a pig and beer in return.  In the feast five mithun would be slaughtered and the feast would last nine days. On the last night there would be a lot of merriment including free mixing of men and women without any inhibition.

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