View source for Miji people

{{Short description|Ethnic group of Arunachal Pradesh, India}}
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{{Infobox ethnic group
| group            = Sajolang (Miji)
| image            = A young Miji man from West Kameng.jpg
| image_caption    = A young Miji man
| population       = 37000 (approx.)
| popplace         = [[West Kameng]], [[East Kameng]] & [[Kurung Kumey]] districts of [[Arunachal Pradesh]] in India and [[Longzi County]], [[Shannan Prefecture]] in China
| languages        = [[Sajolang language|Miji]], [[Bengru]], [[Sajolang language|Sajolang, Damai]]
| religions        = [[Christianity]], [[Animism]], [[Shamanism]]
| related_groups   = [[Abotani]], [[Tani people]]
| footnotes        = 
}}

The '''Miji''', (or '''Sajolang)''' are a social group of Arunachal Pradesh, India. They are located in various districts of [[Arunachal Pradesh]] including the [[West Kameng]], [[East Kameng]] and  [[Kurung Kumey district|Kurung Kumey]].  Their population of 37,000 are found near the lower parts of the sub-Himalayan hills bordering [[Assam]]; they speak the [[Sajalong language]].

==Dress==
[[File:A young Miji girl.jpg|thumb|A young Miji girl from [[East Kameng]]]]
[[File: Miji_women.jpg|thumb|Miji women]]
The traditional costume of Miji women consists of an ankle-length white garment with a beautifully decorated red jacket. Unlike the majority of other tribes of Arunachal Pradesh, India; the Miji people wear silver ornaments, and glass/brass based necklaces.<ref>{{Cite book |author=Oppi Untracht |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D1ZQAAAAMAAJ |title=Traditional Jewelry of India |publisher=Harry N. Abrams, Inc. |year=1997 |isbn=0-8109-3886-3 |page=139}}</ref> Indigenous cosmetics are made from [[pine resin]] and coal ( specially during marriage ceremonies).

==Religion==
[[File:A sacrificial alter of the Bangru tribe.jpg|thumb|A sacrificial altar of the [[Bengru]] tribe]]
Most Miji are adherents of [[Animism]], although a few have adopted Christianity. The  Mijis practise a distinct religion which rely entirely on nature and god ( nature- being the replica of god. The supreme deity worshipped is Zhanglhang-Miungzhin; Mijis believe that god prevail in every aspects of nature, such as trees, water tributaries and even stones.
Chindang, marked every 15 October, is considered the main festival of the Mijis, inhabiting the Lada circle of the East Kameng district, Sarli region of the Kurung Kumey district and Nafra and Bomdila Sub-Division of the West Kameng district with a few of them also found in the Assam-Arunachal border towns of Sessa and Bhalukpong who settled down there some time ago because of better access to facilities. Culturally and linguistically, the Miji and Hrusso Akas form a cognate group.  Their ancestors are called Bor(Robo), or the brother of Tanis, like the Nyishis, Apatanis, Tagins, Galos and the Adis which share common features but are also distinct in themselves. Robo being the elder brother and Nyibo (tani) being younger are actual brothers, who belonged to same father.

There is some Buddhist influence as a result of long-standing cultural contacts with Buddhist tribes to the west, and the celebration of [[Losar]] as well as the usage of [[prayer flags]] are some indicators of this.<ref>{{Cite book |author=Tanka Bahadur Subba, G. C. Ghosh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DHCGN-Xu7YIC |title=The Anthropology of North-East India: A Textbook |publisher=Orient Longman |year=2003 |isbn=81-250-2335-6 |page=289}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* DHAR Bibhash - Planning for tribal development : A study of Miji—Extr. de : Sequences in development in North East India (a study of tradition, continuity and change) / J.B. Bhattacharjee (Ed.), New Delhi : Omsons Publ., 1989, p.&nbsp;120-123.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060527084538/http://www.future.org/pages/03_country_programs/2_india/013_arunachal_in_depth.html FutureGenerations, India, Arunachal Pradesh, In Depth]

==External links==
* [http://siris-archives.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=new&menu=search&aspect=power&npp=10&ipp=20&profile=all&ri=&index=.GW&term=Miji+http+image&oper=and&aspect=power&index=.AW&term=&oper=and&index=.SW&term=&oper=and&index=.TW&term=&limit=LO01+%3D+naa&sort=3100014&x=12&y=9#focus Old photos of the Miji tribe]
* [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=sjl Ethnologue profile]

{{Tribes of Arunachal Pradesh}}
{{Hill tribes of Northeast India}}
{{Ethnic groups in Nepal}}
{{Darjeeling}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Tribes of Arunachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Donyi-Polo communities]]
[[Category:Indigenous peoples of Nepal]]