*** QUESTIONNAIRES POSED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE GOVT. OF NAGALAND ON THE TOPIC: “TATTOOS AND BELIEFS OF THE YIMKHIUNG TRIBE”:

*** RESPONDENT: Shri K. YAMAKAM (EX-MINISTER) SANGPHURü VILLAGE: DISTRICT TUENSANG.

          PART- I

• Q: What is tattoo in local name?

Ans: YAK DOKHI

• Q: Why it is called there is no other meaning except making mark on the body. (Local name) and what is the real meaning of it?

ANS:  IN CASE OF FEMALE IT IS A SIGN OF PUBERTY AND INCASE OF MALE IT IS ONLY FOR WARRIOR.

• Q: Since when tattoo been practiced in your village?

ANS: SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL.

• Q: Give detail account of tattoo in community?

ANS: THE TATTOO HAS BEEN PRACTICED SINCE THE TIME IMMEMORIAL. THE TATTOO MARK IS GIVEN ON THE WARRIOR. IT IS ALSO DONE TO THE GIRL WHO ATTAIN PUBERTY.

• Q: Who is believed to be the first person to have tattoo?

ANS: THE YIMKHUNGRü COMMUNITY PRACTICED TATTOOS SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL. NAME OF THE FIRST PERSON WHO HAD TATTOOS CANNOT BE STATED NOW AS IT IS THOUSANDS OF YEARS OLD PRACTICE.

• Q: Whether both sex tattoo? (1) Only male (2) only female (3)

ANS: BOTH

• Q: Why only male/female tattooed?

ANS: BOTH

• Q: What is the right age to be tattooed?

ANS: FIVE OR SIX YEARS.

• Q: Whether tattoo was compulsory?

ANS: YES.

• Q: What happened when one refused to be tattooed?

ANS: THIS IS THE CULTURE SO EVERYONE HAS TO TATTOO.

• Q: What was the consequence when a poor could not afford to tattoo?   

•  ANS: IRRESPECTIVE OF STATUS THE TATTOO ARE BEING MADE TO EVERY MEN AND WOMEN

PART –II

• Q: How the tattoo performer been select?

ANS: DOES NOT ARISE.

• Q: Tattoo performer used to be male/female.

ANS: MOSTLY FEMALE

• Q: From which clan/group select the performer?

ANS: THERE IS NO PARTICULAR CLAN GROUP FOR SELECTION

• Q: What are the rituals been performed before tattoo?

ANS: WHILE PERFORMING TATTOO NO OTHER RITUALS ARE PERFORED.

• Q: When?

ANS: DOES NOT ARISE

• Q: Where?

ANS: DOES NOT ARISE

• Q: Who?

ANS: DOSE NOT ARISE

• Q: What are taboos been absorbed by?

ANS: INTER MARRIAGE BETWEEN THE SAME CLAN IS TABOOS.

         ANS: TATTOO PERFORMER BY WOMEN FOLK

ANS: ONE TO BE TATTOOED OR AFTER TATTOOED THE SIX WOMEN WILL PERFORM TATTOO ON PERSON AT A TIME.

• Q: How used to managed when one refused to tattoo on the appointed date?

ANS: NO ONE CAN REFUSE AND IT IS COMPULSORY FOR ALL UNMARRIED WOMEN.

• Q: How many persons being required for tattooing spot?

ANS: SIX PERSONS.

• Q: Any restriction for other members on the spot? Male are not allow why?

ANS: TO PREVENT EMBARRASSMENT.

• Q: In case one’s had health to be tattoo, what happened in such cases?

ANS: THE TATTOO WILL BE PERFORMED AFTER RECOVERY FROM THE ILLNESS.

• Q: Which parts of the body are tattooed?

ANS: ON (I) FORE-HEAD (II) CHIN(III) ARMS (IV) CHEST (V) LEGS.

• Q: How the desired pattern was mark on the skin ?

ANS: ALL THE TATTOOS ARE UNIFORM.

• Q: How long does it take to have one completely tattooed?

ANS:  FOR BOTH MALE AND FEMALE IT TAKES ABOUT ONE HOUR

• Q: Is somebody tattoo after married?

ANS: THIS IS PROHIBITED.

• Q: What treatment been given after tattooed?

ANS: COOL MEALS AND THE BEST WINE IS SERVED TO THE PERSON WHO HAS UNDER GONE TATTOO

• Q: Any rituals performed after tattooed?

ANS:  NO RITUALS ARE PERFORMED AFTER TATTOO

Q: What taboos after tattoo for;

1. Person who is tattooed?

ANS: FEMALE WHO ATTAIN PUBERTY AND IN CASE OF MEN WHO IS WARRIOR AND WHO KILLS ENEMIES.

• Q: Family members?

ANS: IT IS COMPULSORY FOR ALL FEMALE MEMBERS IN THE FAMILY.

• Q: What are the tattoo performing charges?

ANS: SPECIAL FOOD IS SERVED TO THE TATTOO  EXPERT AND NO OTHER LABOUR CHARGES ARE GIVEN.

PART – III

• Q: What are the implements been required for tattooing?

ANS: THE EXTRACTED LIQUID/OIL OF PINE TREE IS USED ALONG WITH A MIXTURE OF WATER.

• Q: How the pigments (colours) been prepared?

ANS: THE PIGMENTS ARE PREPARED BY BURNING PINEWOODS.

• Q: How the prepared pigments been applied?

ANS: THREE NUMBERS OF WOODEN THORNS ARE BOUND TOGETHER AND USED FOR MARKING THE TATTOOS.

• Q: What have been done if one badly afflicted after tattoo?

ANS: NORMALLY NO ONE SUFFERS FROM THE INJURIES OF TATTOOS.

• Q: What are consequences if the person dies by affected after tattooing?

ANS: NO SUCH CASES HAD OCCURRED/REPORTED

• Q: How many tattoo performers are still alive?

ANS: THERE ARE CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF MEMBERS STILL ALIVE.

• Q: Whether somebody can still prepare tattoo pigments?

ANS: YES.

PART –IV

• Q: Whether one of the main motive of tattoos is meant for body beautification?

ANS: IT IS PERFORMED UPON THE FEMALES WHO ATTAINS MARRIAGEABLE AGE AND TO MEN FOLK WHO HAS  KILLED ENEMIES.

• Q: To hide or adorn their nakedness?

ANS: NO

*  Q: Having tattoos  is (a) Sign of Marriageable age?   ANS: YES

                                       (b) Sign of attaining puberty?  ANS: YES.

*Q:  What are the beliefs for one having:-

1. a) Clear and distinct tattoo marks? ANS: NO SUCH BELIEFS

2. Not having clear and distinct marks? ANS:  NO SUCH BELIEFS

• Q: Is there any folk tales or songs been used admiring the good tattoo? ANS: NO

PART – V

• Q: Whether adoption of tattoo is meant for identical marks for your

Whole community?   ANS: NO

• Q: Clan?  ANS: NO

• Q: How many set tattoo pattern being used in your society?

ANS: UNIFORM TATTOOS ARE BEING PERFORMED.

• Q: What is the special significance of each set of tattoo pattern?

ANS: NO SUCH SIGNIFICANCE EXISTS.

• Q: What are the identical differences in design of each clan/Communities?

ANS: NO SUCH IDENTICAL DESIGN FOR CLAN/COMMUNITIES.

       * Q: Is there basis to follow the different tattoo pattern?

    *  Q: Eg:- Chungli & Mongsen in Ao Naga/Angami & common man in Konyak Naga)

           ANS: NO SUCH DIFFERENT PATTERNS IS BEING FOLLOWED.

* Q:  Is the same clan follows the same tattoo pattern throughout your tribe?   

     ANS: NO

* Q: Will it be possible to identify each clan/community just be looking a tattoo marks?

     ANS: NO

PART –VI

• Q: Whether tattooing has related to any sort of medicinal value?

ANS: NO

• Q: Which are the diseases believed to prevent or cured by having tattoo?

ANS: NO SUCH BELIEF EXIST

• Q: For tattooing what part being play by tribal medicine man?
• ANS: NO SUCH MEDICINAL PLANTS ARE

PART –VII

• Q: How tattoo is associated with tribal believe and practice?

ANS: NO SUCH BELIEF EXISTS WITH TATTOOS.

• Q: Is there any beliefs that having tattooed?

ANS: NO

• Q: One purifies his body and soul?

ANS: NO

• Q: Because closer towards their deities?

ANS: NO

• Q: More chance in the world?

ANS: NO

• Q: Protect from tribal deities?

ANS: NO

• Q: Whether tattooing is believed to be blood offering to deities?

ANS: NO

• Q: Give details for your folk tale how tattoo is related to your religion.

ANS: TATTOOS IS NOT RELATED TO ANY RELIGIOUS BELIEF.

• Q: In your society-how tattoo is associated to social economic stand?

ANS: NO SUCH STATUS IS ASSOCIATED WITH TATTOOS.

• Q: Is there any particular pattern for tattooing?

ANS: NO

• Q: Rich man:

ANS: NO

• Q: Rich man’s wife?

ANS: NO

• Q: Rich man’s daughters?

ANS: NO

• Q: Whether all the rich man follow the same tattoo patterns (or) differ according to their social and standing?

ANS: NOTHING LIKE THAT IS SET RULES FOR TATTOOING.

• Q: How the great warriors honour with tattoo any special patterns for them?

ANS: THE GREAT WARRIORS ARE HONOURED WITH TATTOOS ON THE CHEST & ARMS.

• Q: Whether the hard-earned tattoo pattern of warriors and rich man can be inherited by their children?

ANS: THE HARD EARNED TATTOOS CANNOT BE INHERITED BY THEIR CHILDREN.

• Q: Is there any clan/group of people who are entitled to be tattooed?

ANS:NO

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