Meghalaya is mainly a Christian dominated state. Before the immigration of the Christian missonaries in Meghalaya in the late 19th century AD and later, most inhabitants followed tribal religions. Today, Meghalaya is dominated by three principal groups of people. These are :
» The Garo in the east and west Garo hills
» The Khasi-Pnar in the east and west Khasi hills
» The Jaintias in the Jaintia hills.
They primarily follow 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 cultural and language. Their present location allowed them to maintain many of their customs and characteristics. The Khasi and Jaintia tribes are matrilineal in character in which, the immovable property of the deceased, is inherited by females, especially the youngest daughter. As a matter of fact, the female babies and daughters get proper attention of the parents regarding their education and health.
The Culture of Meghalaya
The Khasi, Garo and Jaintia are people with a rich cultural heritage. The important crafts of the Khasi and the Jaintia districts are artistic weaving, wood-carving and cane and bamboo work. Carpet and silk weaving and the making of musical instruments, jewelry and pineapple fibre articles are among its minor craft.
The popular handicrafts of the Garo hills district are artistic weaving, cane and bamboo work including poker work (in which designs are burnt into the bamboo with a red-hot pointed rod), wood carving, jewelry and making of clay toys and dolls and musical instruments.
