Ngakhu Thungti
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Chang’ believed that the entire Human Race emerged from Changsangmongko. It is considered as one of the oldest settlements for the Changs’ and many primeval stories of Changsang are unique in its essence. Of all the festival’s Chang revered NAKNYU LUM the most since it was believed that the whole world was engulfed in utter darkness for three days and three nights. The darkness was so much so that the people of Changsang were stranded in the field, some in the jungle, some at the journey and many were held up in their homes.Because of this intense darkness, it was considered Nakshou Naknyu or mother of all darkness. At such a time, when the people were striving hard to overcome the darkness, a man named Namo Moyan happened to kill a double tailed Tiger amidst the darkness. Therefore, he was renamed Namo Molo (meaning Namo the great). At that point of time, the entire world suddenly burst into day light. Since then, in order to celebrate the victory over darkness, the forefathers’ at Changsang resolved to please the Heavenly God by celebrating Naknyu Festival signifying ‘The conquest of darkness by light’.
Naknyu Festival is celebrated every year in the last week of July between the dark moon and the new moon, the festival is firstly pronounced by the elderly person from the Oungh Clan and is celebrated for three days. In this festival, people offer to the Gods to invoke their blessings. Special prayers are also said that darkness does not rule over them again. Naknyu festival is marked by many rituals and restrictions. For instance, if a guest happens to visit the home he/she is expected to visit the following year to avert falling ill.
On the first day of Naknyu, the women folk prepare flour from sticky rice and freshly harvested millet to make steamed biscuit. The selected animals especially mithuns and pigs are killed. The aged males get busy making Yan’s (tops) and Kongkin (mouth flute made of bamboo) for all. On the remaining hours, the members of the whole village starting from the first house which locates on the upper side to the last of the village put Ngounam (Ezhehozea, a scented plant used in ritual) by decorating the surrounding of the house, at the water well, inside the house and outside the house. It is believed to ward off evil spirits. At night after dinner and before sleep, three pieces each of Wei (Saponaria, a wild nut which was used to shampoo the hair in ancient days) is placed at the front doorstep and the back door covered with hot ash and wait until it burst of the heat. If the seed burst and split inside the house, it is considered as a bad omen and that the family would see famine and destruction but if the seed burst and split outside the house, it is considered as a good sign for the year ahead.
The second day of celebration is marked by activities. It is a day of celebration, games competition, sharing and giving. In the morning, the women folk offer rice beer to their elder brothers, cousins, relatives and dear ones. The youngest in the family gets busy distributing steamed biscuits made of sticky rice and millets and cooked meat to relatives, neighbor and friends.
At the same day, Ezhehozeas’ were also wore as a kind of an ornament by man and women of different ages-especially by those who have their ears pierced to ward off evil spirit, the women folk plays Kongkin and the male plays the Yan. Biscuits made of sticky rice and millet is hung high on a pole and the young and old alike compete to reach with their mouth with hand folded behind their back. The competitors are rewarded with hordes of rice cakes and many goodies. It is believed that the Gods during Naknyu come down to collect the Yans and Wei. Hence, one piece of Wei is placed at the entrance of the house at night for the Gods.
The third day determines the fate of the villagers. On the third day, to conclude the consecutive days of celebration young men beat the log drum from dawn till morning. It denotes ‘The declaration of people coming out of darkness and ushering dawn of light’. The old men too sit together in the morning waiting in utter silence to listen to the chirping of the first bird of the morning. They wait in attention for the pronouncement by the birds as it was believed that the kind of bird to chirp first would define the future. If it is the Aumishou (A small bird with blue spots) to chirp first, it is considered a good omen, since it signifies the harvest of the year will be plentiful and an abundant crop is predicted.
If the bird is black with white spot, it confirms that there will be birth of many warriors in the village. But if the first bird chirp is the Shopangshou (A small bird with red spots) then it pronounces misfortune for the people and the village. On the dawn of third day, a chicken is released by an elder of the Oungh clan at the gate of the village to signify the conclusion of the festival. After day break, the first thing the villager’s do is to clean up their respective traditional wells and ponds, followed by cleaning of foot-paths which led to their fields. The rest of the day is spend clearing the roads and renovating the bridges from one village to another. In short, it symbolize the approach of new season ie, winter, as it is being based on ancient days with deep underlying meanings. This festival of celebration is compulsorily marked by all family irrespective of status to avert falling ill/ to ward off evil spirit, because it is believed that, if any family or villagers failed to observe this feast the then Heavenly God punished that particular family which caused to sickness or that the family would see famine.
The festival is signified by the rituals and many ghenna has to be observed.
1. Changs’ do not dance (folk dance) during the festival
2. If a guest visits the home, then it is expected of him/her to visit during Naknyu Lum the following year as well
3. Animals booked for this festival are not spared
4. Matrimonial arrangement during this month is avoided
5. If a rain pours during Naknyu Lum, it brings harvest and fills the granary
6. No house or granary is build during the season
7. People are restricted from even trimming ones hair
8. It was said that any mistake in observation of the rituals will cause famine and pestilence in the village
9. It is assumed that on the last night of the Naknyu festival, the soul of the man or woman who is destined to die the coming year leaves the person
10. Weaving, handicraft, knitting, cultivation of farms or fields should not be left incomplete/half done during the season
11. Exchange of uncooked meat during this festival is not allowed
12. Ahead of the time of this festival, ones’ own belonging such as, household properties and cultivating tools from their respective fields or elsewhere are recollected and kept at home, failing which is believed a bad omen for the family.
The writer is a Secretary Social & Culture Confederation of Chang Students’ Union (CCSU)
