{{Short description|Sino-Tibeto indigenous ethnic group in the northeast India}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Use Indian English|date=July 2019}} {{for|the surname|Kabui (surname)}} {{Infobox ethnic group | group = Rongmei | native_name = | image = File:Kabui Woman.jpg | caption = Rongmei/Kabui woman | population = 188,800 (2011 Census){{cn|date=September 2023}}{{vn|date=September 2023}} | languages = Rongmei language | regions = Northeast India | religions = Christianity, Folk Religion (Tingkao Ragwang Chapriak, Poupei Chapriak, Heraka).{{cn|date=September 2023}}{{vn|date=September 2023}} | related = Zeme, Liangmai }} {{Naga people}}
The '''Rongmeis''' (also known as '''Kabui''') are one of the Naga ethnic communities of North-East India. They are recognised as a scheduled tribe in the Constitution of India.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes): Order, 1950|publisher=Ministry of Law and Justice (India)|url=http://lawmin.nic.in/ld/subord/rule9a.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215013239/http://lawmin.nic.in/ld/subord/rule9a.htm|archive-date=15 February 2018}}</ref>
They share similarity with their kindred tribes of Zeme, Liangmai and Inpui, which together are known as Zeliangrong. Some historians and anthropologists have earlier recorded them as Kabui along with Inpui people.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}
== Festival == The Gaan-Ngai festival (post-harvest festival) is celebrated annually between December and January{{Clarify|reason=It can be in December "and" January, or it can be December "or" January. There's nothing "between December and January"|date=September 2025}}. It follows the lunar calendar and is celebrated on the 13th day of the Wakching or Gaan Ngai buh. It is celebrated to worship the Supreme God Haipou Tingkao Ragwang.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rongmei celebrates Chakaan Gaan Ngai 2024 in Kohima |url=https://morungexpress.com/rongmei-celebrates-chakaan-gaan-ngai-2024-in-kohima |access-date=6 July 2024 |agency=Morung Express |publisher=Morung Express |date=25 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706103359/https://morungexpress.com/rongmei-celebrates-chakaan-gaan-ngai-2024-in-kohima|archive-date=6 July 2024}}</ref>
== Rebellion == During the Colonial period, under the leadership of Haipou Jadonang Malangmei<ref name="Ghosh1992">{{cite book|url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=QwqBAAAAMAAJ}}|title=Tribals and Their Culture in Assam, Meghalaya, and Mizoram|author=G. K. Ghosh|date=1 January 1992|publisher=Ashish Publishing House|isbn=978-81-7024-455-4|access-date=5 June 2013}}</ref> and his successor Rani Gaidinliu Pamei,<ref name="Kusumlata2002">{{cite book|url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=6Mm6puVRqGAC}}|title=Rani Gaidinliu|author=Kusumlata Nayyar|publisher=Ocean Books|year=2002|isbn=978-81-88322-09-1|access-date=12 June 2013}}</ref> the Rongmeis along with other Zeliangrong tribes rebelled against British rule in the 1930s.
== See also == *Hill tribes of Northeast India *Tamenglong *Zeliangrong *List of Naga tribes
== References == {{reflist}}
== Further reading == * {{cite book |title=Folk Songs of Kabui (Rongmei) |editor=Ragongning Gangmei |publisher=The Directorate For The Development of Tribals and Backward Classes |location=Manipur |date=1991}} * {{cite book |title=The Cultural Heritage of Manipur |editor1=Sanjenbam Yaiphaba Meitei |editor2=Sarit K. Chaudhuri |editor3=M.C. Arunkumar |publisher=Routledge |date=2021 |isbn=9780367677572 |chapter=The Kabui (Rongmei) Folk Song of Manipur |first=GAIHEMLU |last=KAMEI |pp=319-338}} * {{cite book |title=The Cultural Heritage of Manipur |editor1=Sanjenbam Yaiphaba Meitei |editor2=Sarit K. Chaudhuri |editor3=M.C. Arunkumar |publisher=Routledge |date=2021 |isbn=9780367677572 |chapter=Cultural Heritage of Rongmei Tribe with Reference to Dance, Religion and Festival |first1=PETER |last1=PANMEI |first2=RABIKANTA |last2=SINGH |pp=395-414}} * {{Cite thesis |title=A study on folktale of rongmei community of manipur with particular references to moral values |last=Thaimei |first=Cecilia |publisher=Mahatma Gandhi University |location=Meghalaya |date=2025 |hdl=10603/680443 |url=https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/handle/10603/680443 |type=PhD}}
{{Naga tribes}} {{Hill tribes of Northeast India}}
Category:Scheduled Tribes of Manipur Category:Naga people Category:Ethnic groups in Northeast India Category:Tribes of India Category:Scheduled Tribes of India