Also called Deng, the Mishmi tribe has multiple sub-classes. According to mythology, Rukmini, the consort of God Krishna belongs to this tribe. Thus, the tribe celebrates numerous Krishna based festivals. During festivals, one can watch dances and skits related to Rukmini’s marriage to Lord Krishna. The Mishmi consist of four tribes: Idu Mishmi (Idu Lhoba); Digaro tribe (Taraon, Darang Deng), Miju Mishmi (Kaman Deng), and the Deng Mishmi. The four sub-divisions of the tribe emerged due to the geographical distribution, but racially all the four groups are of the same stock.
The Mishmi people of Tibet and Arunachal Pradesh are an ethnic group located in the northeastern tip of the central Arunachal Pradesh in Upper and Lower Dibang Valley, Lohit and Anjaw Districts, all bordering southern Tibet in northeast India. The area is known as the Mishmi Hills. Only one group, called the Deng, occupy Zayu County in southern Tibet. The Idu are also known as Yidu Lhoba in Tibet and often referred as Chulikatas in Assam. The Idus are primarily concentrated in the Upper Dibang Valley and Lower Dibang Valley district and parts of the northern part of Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh in India. Taraon, also called Digaru Mishmis, are distributed in the hill and the foothills between the Dibang, Digaru and the Lohit rivers. Kamans are also known as the Miju Mishmis; they live between the Lohit and the Kambang rivers in the foothills and in the Mishmi Hills on both sides of the Lohit river right up to the frontiers to Rima. There are around 30,000 of them in Arunachal Pradesh.
Mishmi, tribal people mostly of Arunachal Pradesh (formerly North East Frontier Agency) in extreme northeastern India, near Tibet and Assam, speaking dialects of the Tibeto-Burman linguistic family. Numbering about 35,000 in the late 20th century, the Mishmi live along the valleys of the Dibang (where they are known as Midu) and Luhit rivers. Those of the Luhit Valley are divided into two groups, the Miju on the upper Luhit and the Digaru on that river’s lower reaches. The Mishmi trace their descent through the paternal line, and young people are expected to marry outside the paternal clan. Settlements are small and frequently shifted. There are no chiefs. Each family group is virtually autonomous and inhabits a longhouse built on piling.
In in Northeastern India, the Miju Mishmi, also known as Kaman or Kammaan, are one of the three tribes of the Mishmi people of Tibet and Arunachal Pradesh. Members of this tribe are located in Anjaw and Lohit district. The Miju clans claim to have come from the Kachin country of Burma. They speak languages of the Midzu branch of Tibeto-Burman. The origin of the tribe is unknown, since the tribe does not have written records and relies on stories handed over by the older generations. There have been several opinions put by early Indian historians but none of the facts provided by those historians are reliable.
The Idu Mishmi is a sub-tribe of the Mishmi group in Arunachal Pradesh and neighbouring Tibet. The other two groups include Digaru and Miju. The community is known for their expert craftsmanship and weaving, and they primarily live in Mishmi Hills, bordering Tibet. The Idu Mishmis have a strong connection with the region’s flora and fauna. They also believe that tigers are their “elder brothers” and have folklores around the relationship. Killing tigers, for the Idu Mishmis, is a taboo. Their ancestral homes are spread throughout the districts of Dibang Valley and Lower Dibang Valley. The tribe’s population is estimated to comprise over 12,000 people, according to the 2011 census, and their language is considered “endangered” by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
People of Mismi tribe, also known as Deng tribe, are found in Tibet and Arunachal Pradesh. This ethnic group is consisted of three sub-tribes, which are Idu Mishmi, Digaro tribe and Miju Mishmi. Mishmi tribal people are mostly seen in the Upper and Lower Dibang Valley, Lohit and Anjaw Districts of Arunachal Pradesh. Mishmis speak in the dialects of Tibeto-Burman linguistic family. Mishmi tribal people are allowed to marry outside the paternal clan. Their settlements are small and frequently shifted. Each family lives in a longhouse built on piling. Corn and buckwheat are the staple crops of this tribe. They also cultivate barley and wheat at higher altitudes and rice at the foothills. Mishmi tribal people are also engaged in hunting and fishing. They worship their tribal gods along with animal sacrifices and other offerings. In their rituals, one can find some Tibetan influence as well. Slavery and headhunting are no longer practiced among the people of this community.
In China, Idu Mishmi is spoken in Xiba village 西巴村, which has just over 40 residents and is located at the foot of Xikong Mountain 习孔山. Xiba village is located 10 kilometers from the nearest administrative center, namely Migu village 米古村 (Jiang 2005:4). The Idu live in the Danba River 丹巴江 and E River 额河 watersheds in Zayü County, Tibet. They are officially classified by the Chinese government as ethnic Lhoba people. In India, the Idu are found in Arunachal Pradesh. The Idu Mishmi people did not usually have a script of their own. When needed Idu Mishmis tended to use the Tibetan script. Currently the Idu Mishmi have developed a script known as “Idu Azobra”.
The Mishmis occupy the northeastern tip of the central Arunachal Pradesh in the Dibang valley and Lohit districts. Their areas are located in the Mishmi Hills which extend between the Dibang and Lohita rivers. The Mishmi Hills thus cover a vast expanse of hilly area beyond Sadiya in Assam valley. The Mishmis are divided into three groups on the basis of their geographical distribution: Idu Mishmi, Digaru Mishmi and Miju Mishmi. The main occupation is agriculture, and the traditional religion is Hindu.
The modern century is blurrily wrapped in ancient beliefs, culture, and bygone practices in the settlements of Mishmi Hills. The Idu Mishmi tribe is not bound by any religion but continue to practice animism and shamanic rituals. The strong belief in after life and spirit guides unite the tribe together. The traditional practices and ceremonies are performed by local Shaman called “Igu” in native Idu language. The indigenous people of Anini are descendants of ancestors who knew their way through Mishmi Hills. The reverence for nature and mountain God has transcended through generations with stories from days of yore. The earlier generations were accustomed to hunting practices and spent days in the hinterlands of Mishmi hills in search for Musk Deer, Asiatic beer etc. The hunters had their own area of hunting in the jungle and Rocky Mountains along the high altitude lakes in the Mishmi Hills. With the ancestral hunting practices, the hunters owned mountains, lakes, and large areas passed on the future generations.
World Mythology 