International Journal of Social Science Research (IJSSR)

The Mising People to Assamese Society and Culture: The Contribution of Folk Food: An Overview

The Mising people, also known as the Miri, are an important ethnic group belonging to the Man-Tibetan branch of the Mongolian racial stock. While they identify themselves as Mising, people in the plains of Assam commonly call them 'Miri.' According to the Hemkosh Dictionary, 'Miri' refers to a tribe of mountain origin that has lived in the plains for a long time. In the past, the term 'Miri' covered a wider area, including the entire region from the eastern Himalayas in the north to the plains of Assam in the south. This term did not distinguish between mountains and plains but referred to the various hill tribes mostly living within those geographical boundaries. More specifically, it applied to tribes in the border zone of the vast Brahmaputra Valley, stretching from the Dihang (also known as the Chiang) and Dibang Valleys in the east to the western border of the Darang district. Today, the Mising population is mainly located in eight key districts: Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Sibsagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Sonitpur, and a few others. These areas are central to their settlements and reflect their rich culture and historical presence in the state.