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The festival is observed in
the first week of September
every year. After toiling for several months
during the year and when the
crops are reaped for harvest,
the green signal to start the
celebration of AMONGMONG festival
is given by the village priest
called “BEBURU” with due prayers
and rites. At the death of the
night the priest will announce /
proclaim the “ZANGNYOU MONGMONG
NUNG EH-LEHE”. The next morning
another priest will read the
proclamation. Then the villagers
will being preparation for the
festival by accumulating food
stuff, firewood and special wine
like ROHI and MADHU. The
announcement donate the
separation of the spirit of the
dead from the living during
AMONGMONG festival. Also nobody
would like to inherit the sin of
the dead and any kind of sinful
deeds. Thus throughout
AMONGMONG festival, a line is
drawn between the dead and the
living.
AMONGMONG festival which mean
togetherness forever, is very
cautiously observed every year
and stretched over six days. The
object is to have a good
harvest, food grains for which
the villager have toiled for
throughout the whole year. The
figure “6” also bear a great
significance among the forefathers as the figure “7” was
among the Hebrews. For example,
when a man brings an enemies
head from war. He keeps himself
undefiled and observe genna for
6 days . A male baby is
christened on the 6th day. If a
man dies the deceased’s family
would mourn for 6 days.
Each day of the festival has got
its own significance. Thus the
first day, that is September 1
is called “SINGKITHSA”. This day
is marked by the closing of all
transaction relating to purchase
of domestic animals like pigs,
cow, Mithuns and roping them.
Beside preparing and collecting
of food stuff the villagers also
engage themselves in collection
of firewood and vegetables and
millets from the old fields.
While colleting the firewood and
water continuous on the second
day, the roped domestic animals
are also killed. After setting
aside some portion for the
feast, the meat is distributed
among the team members of the
group called “ATHIRÜ” and “AKHINGRÜ”.
This male and female groups are
organized according to the age
group primarily for working
together in the field of every
member of the team in turn.
During AMONGMONG festival,
special meal are arranged in the
house of the treasurer of the
respective group / team. On the
other hand the meat of animals
killed by rich individuals is
generally shared among relatives, neighbours and friends. The day
is called “SINKITHSA”.
The third day is “MÜSÜYANGTAP” –
day of worshipping the three
oven stones by one and all In
the early morning of the third
day of celebration, the oldest
woman of the household perform
the ritual by placing gum rice
shaped into balls on the top of
the three stones and pouring
little wine on these stones
believing that the god (LIJABA)
is represented by these stone.
Until the ritual is completed,
nobody in the house is allowed
to taste food and even animals
are not fed. This performance
normally takes a short time
only. But great care is taken
during the ritual lest it is
eaten up by some domestic
animals which is believed to be
the sign of some misfortune or
wrath of the Devil.
On these three days villagers
will neither go to fields nor
outside the village as according
to the belief this action would
bring calamities and also damage
the crops. Again at dawn, the
priest would go to the village
well and first draw water very
carefully. This would be
followed by other people waiting
there. But each one of them must
cover his/her head with green
leaves. Lest he or she is
attacked by cholera. The day is
celebrated with children playing
among themselves with gay
dresses and the young people in
their festive best gather in the
dormitory and exchange songs of
bravery. In course of time.
There are usually joined by their
girlfriends. The whole day is
devoted to drinking of rice
beers, dancing, tug of war and
other merrymaking activities.
The fourth day is called
KIKHA-LANGPI. The male
population of the village would
give a face-lift to the village.
Here again, the priest will
first start clearing the weeds
which is followed by all other
villagers. Path leading to the
fields, inter-village roads,
village wells and springs are
cleaned. On returning home every
grown-up male member will
contribute meat and wine and
feast together in the house of
the village priest. There they
re-affirm mutual friendship. In
short, it is a day of special
gathering and feasting. The wife
of the house puts chilies,
ginger and cotton in green
leaves called “TSIDONG” and put
them in the field or outside the
village., as according to the
belief this action would ward
off calamities and prevent
damage of crops.
The fifth day is called “SHILANG
WUBA NYUNONG”. On this day the
villager pay visit to relatives,
friends and neighboring villages, sharing of meal, drinking
and exchange of gifts in the
form of meat take place.
The last day of the festival is
called “AKATISINGKITHSA”. From
this day harvesting starts. On
successful completion of the 6th
day celebration of AMONGMONG the
Sangtam tribe believe that their
god is well pleased and hope for
blessing from him to have rich
harvest and good health in the
family. |