In Pangsha, Mythun Rearing: An Emotional Lifeline and Tradition of Survival | MorungExpress
Mithun Rearing: Lifeblood of Pangsha Village
Pangsha, Nagaland — At 5 am, Khop and his son Ephu pack salt and head into the nearby forest where their Mithuns graze. The semi-bovine animals respond to a rhythmic call, descending from the ridge to receive their salt treat. For these creatures, salt is more than nourishment; it cements their bond with their caretakers.
Khop, who owns one of the largest herds in Pangsha, explains the significance of Mithun in their lives. "We sell Mithuns to fund education, buy medicines, and honor the departed. They sustain us through tough times," he says. The Mithun, Nagaland’s state animal, roams the jungle but retains specific salt-feeding spots. With around 100 Mithuns, the Khop family finds it challenging to keep track of the herd due to their free-roaming nature.
Essential to the herd’s structure, Ephu notes, are male Mithuns that lead the group. Each Mithun bears a unique ear mark for identification, a tradition passed down through generations in Ephu’s family.
Mithun rearing is deeply woven into Pangsha’s social fabric. Almost every household owns these animals, using them to fund key life events like education, weddings, and funerals. Even the poorest villagers participate, often buying a part of a Mithun as an investment, albeit a risky one if the animal dies.
Historically, Mithuns symbolize wealth, status, and prosperity. "Mithun rearing has always been beneficial, even for offering to gods to cure illnesses," says P. Shingya, President of the Pangsha Public Organization. With limited economic alternatives, the livelihood of Pangsha’s villagers heavily depends on these animals.
Rearing Mithuns is a community effort; villagers check on each other’s animals weekly to feed them salt. However, free-roaming Mithuns pose problems, notably the destruction of crops, making fencing an arduous but necessary task. Despite government efforts to supply fencing materials, the needs far exceed the current provisions.
Pangsha, including New and Old Pangsha and ITC Dan areas, is home to more than 2,000 Mithuns, which even cross into Myanmar for grazing. The villagers continue to balance Mithun rearing with agricultural challenges, sustaining their community through this intricate relationship with their semi-wild livestock.
Original Story https://www.morungexpress.com/in-pangsha-mithun-rearing-is-more-than-a-tradition-its-survival
Category : Morung Exclusive , Nagaland
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