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Its is a time to ask
Almighty God for a bountiful harvest
of crops in that very year. The Aoleang Monyu is spread over six
days. Each day has separate name and
different significances : (1) Hoi
Lai Yah Nyih (2) Yin Pho Nyih (3)
Yin Mok Shek Nyih (4) Lingnyu Nyih
(5) Lingha Nyihand (6) Lingshan Nyih.
The first day is called “HOI LAI YAH
NYIH” which mean the preparation day
of the Aoleang Monyu. On this day
every arrangement is made for the Aoleang like collection f firewood,
banana leaves, vegetables etc. the
rice-beer is also stored on this
day. New clothes are woven and all
necessary ornaments are prepared On
this day the head of the family goes
to the jhum field and sacrifices a
chicken and sprinkles its hot blood
on the “WUMJONG” altar with an
invocation to the supreme power for
helping to grow crops well. By
taking out the intestine, he
predicts the future of this family.
A leg of chicken with food is given
to the neighbor of the new jhum
field that year. The food is
carefully put into leaves and
brought home and given to the family
members after the prayers and
ceremony. On that day also a stage
called “Aoleang WAKAM” is
constructed in every PANS” Morung
for the dancing parties.
The second day is called “YIN MOK
PHO NYIH”. The domestic animals like
buffaloes, Mithuns, cows and pigs
etc. have to be searched and roped
in and tethered to a post to be
killed during the Aoleang. In
addition, young boys who have not
yet joined in head-hunting age are taken
to the jungles for proxy
head-hunting. On their return from
the jungles, the next day young boys
and girls have to be tattooed.
The third day is called “YIN MOK
SHEK NYIH” which means the day for
killing of animals. On this day the
green signal for the start of the
festival is given by hoisting of a
well decorated bamboo flag “KOIPHONG”.
Right after the hoisting, the young
men starts playing the log drum and
go to their own houses to kill the
animals. All the men gathered at the
Morung will have the best chosen
food and rice-beer before they go to
their houses. The youngsters in the
age group between 15 to 20 years
together kill some domestic animals
and take the meat to their parents
after they enjoy the day.
The fourth day is called “LINGNYU
NYIH” which means the greatest day
amongst the six days of Aoleang
Monyu. On this day, men and women
wear beautiful ornaments and spend
the whole day in community feasts,
amusements, dances and merrymaking.
Every house prepares the best feast
and shares it with friends,
relatives and neighbors. In the
afternoon, all the mean go to the
main entrance gate of the village
and have a feast there and teach the
young men the art of head-hunting.
On their return from the place
called “PEJONG”, which means
“entrance gate to the village”, the
men group themselves according to
different Morungs and start dancing.
Led by the their leaders, they visit
each other’s Morung and express each
other’s good and bad qualities
through songs. The normal themes of
the songs are victory over the
enemy, asking Almighty God for
bountiful crops etc. the dance party
holds the enemy’s head in their
hands and display in front of the
other Morungs their victory over
their enemies. In the evenings, all
the groups gather at a place called
“SHAOCHONG” where the heads, legs
and hands of enemies are kept. All
the groups dance together and fire
the guns. The old and young men who
can shoot go to their own houses
with loaded guns and fire in front
of their houses to signify the
“LINGNYU NYIH”
The fifth day is called “LINGHA NYIH”.
This day is observed by honouring
each other; the old men are honoured
by the young, young boys and their
parents call on their married
sisters and daughters respectively
and offer them the best feasts;
married daughters also visit their
parents and offer grand feasts to
their parents. On his day, families
of the dead visit the burial sites
of their dead relatives and pay
their last homage to the departed
souls. A special feast is arranged
on this day to renew the friendship
made by parents and to make the
friendship last for posterity
amongst the descendants. They also
visit permanently declared household
friends and exchange well-prepared
food items. Permanently-declared
household friendship continues for
years together and the best portions
of meat are exchanged between these
households.
The sixth day is called “LINGSHAN
NYIH” which mean final day of the
Aoleang Monyu. The day is spent in
cleaning the village and houses
which were made dirty during the
Aoleang Days. |