Na-hutpa
(Chura Karan)

By: N Mangi Devi *

Each and every ceremony from the birth of the child is intermingled, related to the growth and development of the child's life. This ceremony of nahutpa (chura karan) is a very important one in respect of the growth of the child as it is performed when the child reaches the age of three or five years .

It is closely related to the death ceremony as there is difference at the ceremony of death of a three year old child with that of child below three years. In case of the former the normal ceremony of the dead can be performed while in the case of the later the dead body has to be buried without performing normal rites and rituals of the dead.

It is not usually desirable. For this reason the Nahutpa ceremony of a child at the age of three years is assumed to be very important. For Chakpa-phayeng, this ceremony of nahutpa is performed for 3 years old and 5 years and 7 years old children together at a community function that has to be performed at the house of the oldest child in which they all share the expenses of the function. However, every child has to arrange one needle, one egg and one small earthern pot positively.

Usually, the main ceremony is being performed at the courtyard of the house by erecting a Mandop, the surrounding areas is clean. Sankirtan is to be performed on that Mandop. At the suitable place, aphambal (altar) and iratphu (ghot) are "a must" and mei-iratphu (fire worship-puja) is beautifully arranged in a special place.

On the four sides of it are fixed four plantains, four small bamboos and four sugarcane plants that symbolies the four pillars representing four gods of four direction, Marjing, Koubru, Thangjing and Wangbrel. Firewood of seven different kinds of trees are to be offered to fire god. The Priests or Maibas on behalf of the family perform the puja to worship and pray for the welfare, health and long life of the child.

Kumaris pouring the water over the child

The hair of the child is to be shaved, the child has to take bath. Just after the bath three girls (kumaries) will pour the water from three earthern pots (that was kept last night fetched from river or pond not from the house) over the child through a white piece of cloth spread over the head of the child. When it is over the child will dress-up new clothes, put on nice ornaments and the mother will also dress-up nicely.

They will sit on a new phak (made by bamboo threads) near the fire-place, iratphu and phambal the priest will clean them with tarel-pungphai of traditional Meitei or rush leaf by pandit of Hindu Vaishnava which ever may be.

Then, when the puja is over the ear of the child will be pricked a hole to wear with gold or silver or black thread whichever may be. After it the father of the child along with the child will pay obeisance to god through the sankirtana, offering the money prostrating to them one by one.

Here the man ceremony is over. Often a grand feast is arranged for all relatives and invitees of the function.

It is 'Annadan' and merry making and sharing happiness at the important stage of development of the child. The child is accepted as a member of the society since he/she can mix with others, express himself/herself verbally and understand the people and its environment.

---

* N Mangi Devi wrote this book entitled "Main Ceremonies of Meitei Society . This article was webcasted on January 06th 2010.