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It is a
platform of progress and prosperity,
which became the public court for
deliberating all the major issues
and cases which were heard and
judgment delivered accordingly.
Social issues like village
administration, cultivation,
festivals, worship, marriage
systems, boundaries of the land, war
and peace-making were also taken up
in the platform. Decision delivered
and judgments passed from this Mullang Shon became the final order.
The Changs usually observe six major
festivals in a year, out of which
three festivals namely (1) Poang lem
(2) Jeinyu Lem and (3) kundang lem
were monitored by Haongang Clan. The
remaining three festivals (1) Muong
Lem (2) naknyu Lem and (3) Monyu lem
were monitored by Ung clan. In this
way the tradition was maintained for
generation and is followed till
date.
The counting of the days and the
fixation of the festivals were made
on the following manner : At the
time of counting the days for the
fixation of festival, a chicken
offering is made for appeasing the
Gods. Each clan while performing
such a ritual has to observe much
sanctity. All festivals were fixed
six days ahead except the KUNDANG
LEM and NAKNYU LEM. The Kundang Lem
was treated as the youngest and was
fixed five days ahead, whereas the
Naknyu lem was treated with much awe and
so was fixed just two day ahead. It
should start on the dark moon day as
the main festival day.
KUNDANG LEM : Kundang Lem is
observed in the eighth month April
if the Chang calendar. The festival
is observed for five days only.
During the first three days,
materials for construction of field
huts in Jhum cultivated areas are
collected and the area is tested on
the fourth day. On the fifth day the
relatives collectively go to the
fields for constructing of the
houses. The sixth day is also kept
for feasting. The seventh day is
observed “AOLAAK JAANGBU” – planting
or raising a kind of tree which
bears bunched of sour fruits. A
daughter born within this month is
named as KUNDANG.
NAKNYU LEM : It was believed
that in ancient days, during the
forefather’s time, the entire world
was enveloped with the total
darkness and day and night could not
be differentiated. The darkness was
so thick that people could not even
go out for collection of firewood
and water. They remained inside
their homes for six days and by then
they ran short of everything. In
order to keep the fire burning
inside homes, they burnt every
available thing and when nothing was
left they were compelled to burn
even the horns of buffaloes, Mithuns
and cows that were hung in front of
the houses.
On the seventh day the light came as
usual. The people of the earth
became extremely happy and by way of
thanks to God this Naknyu Lem was
held. During Naknyu Lem, no worship
is performed but certain rules are
strictly observed. This festival is
held on the eleventh month of the
Chang Calendar which falls during
July. The counting of the days and
the announcing of the day is made by
the Ungshedbou of Ung Clan. It
should be a sudden announcement
leaving two days gap only. It starts
on the last day of the moon i.e.
flour grinding day. Domestic animals
are slaughtered, young and old spin
tops, while music and laughter
pervades from the womenfolk's they
play the Kongkhin (flute) made out
of bamboo splits. Village streets
are swept and houses and their
surroundings are cleaned while
firewood and water are stocked.
The second day, which is the dark
moon day is called “Youjem”. On this
day no one goes our of the village,
even for drawing water. There are
exchanges of gifts and food items
amongst friends and relatives. Meat,
wine and freshly packed bread are
abundantly used. Games like Top
spinning, tug – of – war, high jump,
long jump, climbing of oiled pole
and jumping and grapping big lumps
of well cooked meat hung in rows
along a bamboo rope are played. The
womenfolk play on the Kongkhim. They
too compete with each other with the
instruments. Men and women, young
and old, all engage themselves in
feasting and merrymaking the whole
day but do not indulge in dancing.
On this occasion the footpath and
all the houses are decorated by
placing leaves; a kind of herbal
shrub called “NGOUUNAAM” (Eiziholfziablanda).
It is a must to plant this shrub in
front of every house to ward off evil
spirits. The people, especially the
children, put the leaves in their
ear lobes so that no evil spirits
will harm them. In the evening, the
time time of sunset, everybody
remains inside the house. No man
walks or roams outside. During this
hour, in the front and back doors of
every house a seed called “Vui land”
(tape seeds) is buried inside paddy
husks and burned. Every member of
the family remains still to hear the
bursting sound of the seed. The tape
seed explodes and if the sound and
the exploding fragments bounce back
towards the house, it is a bad omen
and if the sound is good and the
fragments bounce off it means good
fortune. At this hour, “Shambuli Muhgha”, a God from heaven descends
and visits every house and any one
found inside is harmed. The third
day is the day of cleaning the
village surroundings and approach
roads. After the celebration of this
festival other activities like
cleaning of paths to the fields and
neighboring villages start. A
daughter born in this month is names
as Monyu. |