The Kom are found to inhabit mainly in the
Churachandpur and Senapati districts of Manipur.
According to 1981 census, the Kom population was 8618.
They speak a dialect that has affinities with old
Kukis under Tibeto-Burman language.
According to the myth of their origin, their
forefathers are believed to have come out through a
Cave which led them to the Fort of Manipur from
another world. A tiger used to lay in wait to kill
them.
Karongpa who came out wearing a stripped cloth
made friends with the tiger as his cloth resembled its
skin and therefore his descendents were refrained from
eating or killing a tiger. Salchapa came out and
killed the tiger. Leivonpa cut out the tiger's tongue
and wrapped it up in his waist.
But according to another version, Pu Songthu, the leader of the party
killed a great snakeand a tiger for obstructing their
way. Then, they were free of danger and rejoiced at
the house of Telenpa.
In the subsequent generations
they became the head of the various Kom clans namely
Karong, Saiche, Leivon, Tellein, Hmangte, Serto and
Lupheng,
According to Kom researchers, between 100 B.C. and 100
A.D., they entered Burma and sometime in 200 A.D. they had moved
toward Arakan Hills and Bay of Bengal. Then the Kom
people entered Tripura and from there they entered
Manipur as they were ousted by the Soktes.
Their typical house is thatch roofed one. The art of
weaving, believed to have been followed from Chongnu
who fell in love with a Python-God, still continues in
loin looms.
Before she joined him in the realm of
immorality, she copied the markings of her lover's
body in her loom. The ordinary dress of a man is a
dhoti fastened round the waist while a man of
distinction wears pasppan, the cloth bearing the skin
mark of Python-god.
The womenfolk, who are the
designated weavers of the tribe, wear Saipikhup,
Khamtlang, Ponlak etc. that bear remarkable designs on
the borders as bodice or skirt. They also use wrist
bands. They wear necklace made of semi-precious stones
and cowries. They use weapons such as axe, dao, spear,
bow and arrow etc.
The Koms are and were self-sufficient in their
economy. Theirs is, on the whole, an agricultural
society. They practise both shifting and wet
cultivation.
Not only do they cultivate their staple
food rice, they also grow potatoes which had been
imported by Rev. William Pettigrew, the first
missionary who came to Manipur. They also cultivate
millet and yam. Domesticated animals include pigs,
fowls, goats, cows, buffaloes, mithun etc.
Their society is divided into social groups which are
again sub divided into smaller groups. The Clan is the
biggest social group and reflects in ascertaining at
final relationship.
These clans which are exogamous in
nature are Karong, Saicha, Leivon, Tellein, Such,
Lupheng and Hmangte. Descent is traced exclusively
through the male line. The youngest male issue of the
family inherits the property.
In Pro Christian days, marriage of a son was to be
arranged by the parents. For a male member, his mother's brother's
daughter was the mate prescribed by the society. The
marrying groom had to serve at his father-in-law’s
house for three years.
This custom was known as
Numhei-hle. The alternate form of acquiring bride was
to pay bride price or mangkat for three times. At
times this creates a havoc because of its
excessiveness. At present, bride is secured by mutual
consent.
Non Christian Koms believe in two deities - Pathen, the supreme one and
Lungjei. Pathen is creator of all living being and the
Universe in consultation with his brother Lungjei,
They also worship Inroi as their household god. They
also believe in the existence of soul after death and
Heaven and hade are abodes of these souls.
They do observe a number of festivals both social and
religion in nature.
Festivals |
Month |
Kom |
English |
Seling, Belaro, Lukasun Lhungphung,
Khongnangkhong |
Matai |
March |
Cheiraoba |
Martum |
April |
Kasalai |
Karani |
September |
Lamkut |
Eartha |
October |
These festivals are:
Seling - Erection of wood
Belam - Erection of bamboo on the top of which is
placed a bird to be
targeted for arrow shooting thereby testing valour.
Lukasun - Offering last rite to deceased persons.
Lhungphung - Erection of mega stone.
Khongnanghong - Performance of festival for a big
banyan tree in his
name so as to retain his name after death.
Cheiraoba - New Years Festival.
Hlodei - Wedding rite.
Lamkut - At dusk, song and dance (Lamkut lam) are held
in every house, accompanied by feast to sanctify them
and to keep their houses as sacred places through out
the current year. Its period continues for one month.
Manindra Konsam from Sanathong wrote this article.
|