Pubuan/Bhubhuan Ching, popularly known as Bhuban Hills, is the abode of Apou Baomei Bhuanchaniu, one of the gods of indigenous tribal religion of Rongmei Naga people. It is one of the most important religious sites of the followers of the indigenous faith of Rongmei tribe.
Located in Assam’s Cachar district, the Bhuban Hills is situated near the Assam-Manipur border in the east and with the state of Mizoram in the south. On the western side of the Hills, is the Barak Valley which comprises the three districts of Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj. To the north of the Bhuban Hills is the Silchar-Jiribam-Imphal highway road. Silchar, the second most populous city in Assam and also the district headquarter of Cachar district, is about 35 kms from Motinagar which is a small but growing village situated at the foothills of Bhuban Hills. From Silchar, one can reach Motinagar by hiring vehicle till “Panichowki Khasia Punjee” which is a Khasi village founded not so long ago and which is also the last human settlement any vehicle can reach before the ascend to the top of the hills commences.
As per our history, once there were many Rongmei villages situated in Bhuban Hills. Some of the villages were –
- Jhulumluang(Duiluamluang)
- Rachaluang
- Neikanluang
- Gaipuinam
- Peiriamluang
- Bitiangluang
- Kangjengluang
- Dadimluang
And other villages whose names are not known. Unfortunately, these aforesaid villages have now ceased to exist with its descendants now scattered in the Rongmei villages of Cachar district in Assam. And it is said that deep in the jungles of Bhuban Hills, there are still remnants of these abandoned villages.
The most important site of the Bhuban Hills is the “Bhuanchaniu Cave” which is also known as The Naga Cave. This cave has been frequented by Haipou Jadonang and later by Rani Gaidinliu for religious purposes, to get the blessings of Apou Baomei Bhuanchaniu.
Today, there is a committee/management set up and run by the followers of indigenous faith, to look after religious sites and affairs of the Bhuban Hills. The members/volunteers of this committee visits the hills for maintenance purposes periodically throughout the year. The committee is funded by private donations with no government assistance. Every year thousands of Zeliangrong pilgrims from Assam, Manipur and Nagaland throng the Hills as part of the “Annual Ritual Ceremony Bhuban Hill” which is organized by the committee. This year’s programme which is going to be the 39th edition, will be held on 8th & 9th February 2020.
At a time when we are experiencing threat to our identity as a result of various political and demographical changes in our country and at a time when the border between indigenous and non-indigenous identity has become blurry, it has become imperative to protect and preserve the purity and sanctity of Pubuan/Bhubhuan Ching.
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