Cane and Bamboo Crafts of Manipur
- Part 5 -

By: Mutua Bahadur *

42. Yangkok. Meitei circular bamboo basket used for winnowing rice chaffs. Height 3cm. Curcumference of the mouth us 211 cm.

CIRCULAR AND RECTANGULAR BASKETS

Circular baskets are more commonly used by the people in the valley than in the hills. Rectangular baskets are normally used by the hill people. A particular type of circular basket is used for winnowing rice chaffs, while a second type is used for drying grain in the sun. The first type is called Yangkok (Fig.42) and the second type is called Phoura by the Meiteis. Yangkoks are smaller in size as compared with the phoura. A yangkok has a diameter of 80cm. only, whereas a phoura has a diameter of 3 meters.

The yangkoks used in Manipur are generally made by the Khoibu-Maring, the Ngarum-Maring and the Purum-Chothe tribal people. The Tarao tribe also make such baskets. There is an apparent difference between the yangkoks made by the Maring and those made by the Chothe, in that the former has a drooping bottom whereas the latter has a firm bottom.

At the time of using the yangkok, some people apply cow-dung on the bottom of the basket so that it becomes firm when the cow-dung dries. It ensures a more efficient handling of the yangkok while winnowing rice chaffs. If it so happens that the dried cow-dung falls off piece by piece after some time, the usual practice is to apply fresh cow-dung and then dry it in the sun.

Phouras are generally used by the people in the valley. In the same fashion as with yangkoks, people apply cow-dung on the bottom of the basket to make it firm.

There is a belief related to the number of cane splits used for tying and strengthening the circular rim of the yangkok. The belief is that the number of cane splits thus used corresponds to the count of 'Chak Nga Chak' or 'Chang Shee Chang' (Chak or Chang = live beings, Nga or Shee = dead beings). The basket which has a count ending on the 'Chak' number is chosen for use. It is believed that a household which uses such yangkok shall experience prosperity and happiness in life.

The yangkok used in the household is never left lying around outside the house when not in use. This underlines the belief that ayangkok is the 'Thawai' or 'Soul' of the household; and the soul cannot be seperated from the body (i.e., the house).

And, while keeping the yangkok the practice is to keep it face down and the bottom up, never the other way around. It is treated as inauspicious to keep two yangkoks in one house. In the event of a baby born to a Meitei family, a ritual known as Ipan-thaba is held on the sixth day of the child's birth, wherein the child is placed on a yangkok (usually the one that is used in the household) by the midwife (Maibi).

It is done for the welfare of the child, so that it may have a bright future. Yet another interesting thing is that in the event of a death in a Meitei family, the yangkok used in the household is fixed on to the end of a bamboo pole and is used to fan the burning funeral pyre. This practice is still in vogue. Yangkoks are also used for ritual purposes by Maibas (Priests) and Maibis (Priestesses).

FILTERING BASKETS

In Manipur, people living in the hills as well as in the valley have a practice of collecting the ash by burning sun-dried Laphu-maka or outer layer of the banana stem, straw and pea plants. The three ingredients are burnt together.

The ash so obtained is used in Utee Chumba or filtering of the Utee, a process for getting the alkaline substance present in the ash. Meiteis use a small basket called Shek for filtering the ash. The Shek is conical, having a circular mouth with a tapering end.

On two sides of the circular mouth are extended flaps that act as hand-holds. A tiny hole is maintained on the tip of the tapering end for allowing the filtered solution to come out. The ash previously collected is first put into the Shek through the open mouth, and then water is poured over the ash. The filtered solution that comes out is termed as 'Khari'.

This is the alkaline substance used in the preparation of the Utee curry. Excluding the strap, the Shek has a diameter of about 11 cm. at the mouth and a height of 9 cm. Sometimes, it is observed that certain sections of the people living in the valley use the Miruk (basket used for measuring rice) in place of the Shek for filtering the alkaline solution.

The tribal people too use the Shek for the same purpose. The only difference is that the Shek used by them is somewhat bigger in size than those used by the valley people.

See a gallery photo of Cane and Bamboo Crafts of Manipur here.

To be continued ....

Mutua Bahadur

* Mutua Bahadur contributes to e-pao.net regularly. This article was webcasted on September 12, 2011.