Cultural beliefs and practices of the indigenous tribals (Kukis and Nagas) of Manipur: Their assimilation and modification by catholicism

The tribal way of life is greatly intertwined with religion and thus, religion naturally affects the culture they practised. Religion and culture are inseparable in many ways and religion had always been the centre of most beliefs and practices. Religion and culture are constantly feeding off each other, as is manifested, ‘In the world of culture, religion carves out a privileged position. Look at the way a Hindu, a Muslim, a Sikh or a Christian dress, themselves or the way they build their places of worship- temples, mosque and churches. There is peculiarity and specificity. Their cultural moorings find concrete expressions in their attempt to give a definite touch to their structural monolith’. Even the food habits are conditioned by their religious outlook. The Hindus consider the cow as a sacred animal. The Muslim avoids pork eating for the swine is considered as unclean animal. While the Christian have no qualms about these things and they avoid meat eating only on the day of abstinence such as Ash Wednesday and Good Friday of their liturgical season of lent. Abstinence is voluntary and only a norm is prescribed and it is not even forced on anyone. Religious prescriptions are accommodated by the cultural life of the people. Religion presents itself coloured by culture. A crucified Christ, a meditative Buddha and a chariot riding Krishna, portray the vivid image of the supreme beings who takes different avatars on Earth. The behavioural approach of believers also depends on how a community strictly adheres to one's religious tenets. Those who are adamant on holding on to secular values and others having their ways with religious values will look at everything in the world through different kaleidoscopic prisms.