The Meghalaya plateau is inhabited by three dominant tribes. These are:

The Garos in the western section of the plateau

The Khasis in the central section of the plateau

The Jaintia in the eastern section of the plateau

Garos

The Garos call themselves Achiks. ‘Garo’ is believed to have been derived from the name of one section of the tribe who are found in a compact area in the middle of the districts southern belt. The Garo tradition speaks of their migration from Tibet.

In course of time, the Garos society was divided into three major exogamous, ‘Kin-groups’ or Katchis, namely Marak, Sangma and Momin. These are further sub-divided into such groups as Areng, Shirra and Ebang.

Marriage between members of the same Katchi is totally prohibited by tribal law. Each of these Kin-groups is further sub-divided into a number of lineages called Machong. The Machong with its component households is the basic unit in the Garo social organization. A Garo belong to his particular Machong from his birth. In each village, the dominant Machong selects the headman who is Nok-ma literally means house-mother. Usually Nok-ma would be a man.

Inheritance among the Garos is restricted to the female line. Each family selects an heiress (nok-ma). A couple with no children may adopt the daughter of the wife’s sister as heiress. The heiress is usually linked in marriage with the son of the father’s sister.

The institution of the ‘Bachelors Dormitory’ (Nok-pante) is found only among the Garos. All unmarried young men and growing boys must live in the dormitory. These young people carry out allotted tasks entrusted to them by the village elders.