"Oral cultures and cultural activism – Challenges and responses"
- With special references to Liangmai Community -
- Part 3 -

Adibo Newmei *

Chagah Festival of Liangmai community celebrated at Taphou Liangmai village, Senapati on Oct 30, 2012 :: Pix - Popcha Yambem

A day called Peng Kepbonai (Peng- wooden human figurine, Kepbonai- the day of hurling). The Peng will be placed in a high wooden pole. Every member will make a dart out of Ading or Maram (a typical reed found in the hills) and will aim to hit the Peng. The Singku or Pakhangpi (leader of Morung) will make the attempt. He yells out and shouts "let my dart hit the eye of my enemy, the kidney and heart of my foe."

Peng is divided into five parts and hitting a particular part has its own significance:-

1) Papi (head) is called Charibung (bull's eye for warrior) whoever hit it with his dart will be a great warrior.

2) Pahguang (neck) called Tathiubung (bull's eye for hunter) whoever hit it with his dart will be a great hunter.

3) Pagah (chest) called Aliubung (bulls for girl or damsel) whoever hit it will have many lovers.

4) Ahbum (stomach) called Chamiubung (bull for grain) whoever hit it will have a rich harvest in the New Year.

5) Parun (anus or below stomach) is called Majiubung (bull for adversity) whoever hit it will fall prey to sickness, injury, death, fines etc. Therefore, whoever hits the Majiubung will performs various rituals to set free from this ill-fated omen with the help of the Priest after the Chaga.

On the last day of Chaga, every male member will make delicious curry of different meats, fish and birds in his capacity. It will be presented to their married sisters as a token of love, affection and a symbol that she is always remembered. This day is called Chagan Thienbonai (day of delivering curry) and every sister is a proud sister on this day particularly in front of her in-laws.

The Liangmai's came into contact with Christianity with the coming of the British in Liangmai areas. The first Christian convert was Maisi Newmai of Taningjam village in 1923. The last convert was Mrs. Peijanliu of Bena hang Village in 2003 because the Liangmais under the banner of Liangmai Naga Baptist Association Manipur held a grand convocation called "Passover" and proudly declared that all the Liangmai's are Christian.

In a span of about 100 years the Liangmai in general have almost forgotten about their past. The great contributions made by their forefathers are almost forgotten. The folktales, folk song, myth is something of an antique folklore. But there are many important cultures which we sub consciously and needs more to be accommodated in our modern culture for a better society. There are still some elders who still adhere to the traditional lifestyle and we can orally learn from them.

The women were a second fiddle in the family and society. But, throughout the ages they have work tirelessly to uphold the family and society as a whole. In modern times, many of their manual work have been replaced by new invention like rice mill, tap water, cooking gas, washing machines but still their burden and responsibilities are all the more busier like the bees.

The continued oral history of the clan, village, society etc. is narrated to their children. The traditional dress of the community are woven by them, they wear the dresses on every occasion proudly. Even though head-hunting is of the past but crimes still continue in various forms. Women take important roles to initiate amicable solution in the round of negotiation. Women folk have formed societies to help each other and elevate their status.

The Liangmai have taken to western education and many well off family with bigger communities in towns and cities as a result the daily usages of their own vocabulary are decreased. Their sense of pride of belonging to the community is vague. The conversion to Christianity has led to the alienation from traditional values, customs, belief and festivals.

Today, many educated Liangmais have started inquiring about their past. The thirst for identity is becoming an important issue in the modern era. In this critical juncture, The Liangmai Art and Culture Association, Manipur have embarked upon the revival of one important festival with certain modification to suit with modern times i.e. Chaga.

It is to encourage the young generation to know more about the past traditional believes and ethics. The Association has made it a one day festival, to make it lively but all the important tenets of Chaga are retained. The festival which is mainly for the men is modified where the entire community can participate irrespective of men and women.

But some groups uphold that modification will make the festival lose its originality, its importance, and it may even infringe to religion. But these cultural activists are working cautiously to revive the tradition suited to modern era. It encourage the younger generation to take pride and interest to know more about the past and learn traditional folk songs, folk dance and music even art and craft.

Here a society called "Tribal Music, Dance and Craft research Centre, Tamei" has emboldened the younger generation. The response from the community is very positive but great care is needed in attempting this task.

"This paper was presented at the National Seminar on "Recovering the Oral Histories of North-East India" at Dimapur on October 31 and November 1 2012 organised by Indian Institute of Advance Studies (IIAS) and INTACH".

Concluded ...