All cultures have unique facets and aspects, but the three main tribes of Meghalaya have a cultural practice that is found in few other communities across India-the matrilineal structure of the families. Simply put, this is a system in which the woman is the custodian of the family. After their wedding, her husband moves into her home. Their children trace their linage through the mother’s bloodline and take her clan’s name as theirs. Additionally, the mother’s ancestral property is passed down to the khun khatduh (youngest daughter) of the house, who usually continues to live in it even after she gets married.

Due to the abundant rain that Meghalaya receives, its landscape crisscrossed with rivers and dotted with lakes and ponds. Not surprisingly, fishing is not just an occupation but also a popular form of recreation. And the locals take it very seriously indeed. Angling competitions are very popular here, and anglers travel across the state to participate in them. The stakes are high and prizes are often in the six figures!