The Garos are the earliest human group that migrated into North East India from the Tibetan plateau during the pre-historic period; the evidence of this being the Garo villages found across the Brahmaputra Valley, including many in and around the Guwahati metropolitan area. It is often put forward that the famous Kamakhya was a Garo shrine before it was stolen by the patriarchal Aryans during the reign of the Koch kings.

There are eight different clans of Garos with specific names like ‘Abe', ‘Chichak', ‘Abeng', ‘Gara-ganching', ‘Atong', ‘Ruga', ‘Megam' and ‘Matchi' as per their differently established territories. Out of the two major matrilineal communities in the North-East, the Garo is usually recognized one.

The basic occupation of the Garo people is agriculture and they usually follow the method of Jhum cultivation. They live in small villages with clusters of 22 to 25 houses. There is a separate accommodation for young boys called ‘Nukphanthe'. In the ancient times, the Garo people worshiped their own deities like ‘Saljong Tatala' and ‘Mitte Dalgipa' and so on. However, after the advent of the Christian missionaries, most people have converted to varieties of Christianity like the Baptist and the Roman Catholic.

The Garos follow matriarchal family structure. The line of descent is always traced through the females only. The mother of the family is the head of the family and the father does not play any important part in a Garo family. Marriages are exogamous. Marriage between the same clan is prohibited. Cross cousin marriage is not present. After marriage the son-in-law has to stay in the in-laws house which is called ‘Nokrom'. A very interesting custom is present in Garo tribe that is after the death of father-in-law he become the husband of the mother –in-law also. The youngest daughter of the family inherits the property. The Garo follows polygamy system. After the prior consent of the first wife the marriage is possible. There is no bride price. Divorce is present and child marriage is unknown to them.

Traditionally the ‘Nokma', the chief clan is the custodian of all lands in the village. Any villager is free to cultivate wherever he wants. Any outsider who wants cultivate in a village has to pay land revenue. The Nokma plays a very important role in village administration.
In a unique legal system all of their own, the elderly people are the decision-makers and arbitrators. Should any one be found guilty of some misdemeanor, then the entire clan must share in the punishment.

Although the Garo tribe is converted to Christianity, they have their traditional religious beliefs and practices. According to them there is Supreme Being along with many deities/spirits. Each of them is assigned a particular role.

Agriculture is the primary occupation. Rice is the staple food. They have their own traditional dresses and ornaments. The traditional attire of man is a strip of woven cloth and turban. The main attire of woman is consists of a cloth wear around the waist. In the upper part they wear blouse. The Garo people are very fond of ornaments. Some of the ornaments wear by them are ‘Nadongbinr Sisha', ‘Nadirong', ‘Natapsi', ‘Jaksan', ‘Ripok', ‘Jaksil', ‘Sengki', ‘Pilne'.

Bachelors' dormitory is very important in a Garo society known as ‘Nokpante'. There must be at least one ‘Nokpante' in a Garo village. It serves as an institution of informal education.

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