Napkaodai : A festival of Zeliangrongs

By Dr Budha Kamei *

Napkaodai is one of the important ritual festivals of the Zeliangrong people of North East India. Napkao literally means the calling of the paddy (Nap=paddy, Kao=to call,). It is also known as seed sowing festival. It is celebrated for one day in the month of February-March. It is a festival of worship of Tingkao Ragwang for successful cultivation and plentiful harvest. (Chamdin Then: Changbi, vol-1, Imphal, 1973, p.3.)

In this festival, a big pig is killed invoking to the supreme God, Tingkao Ragwang for bountiful crop of the year. This ritual is performed at the residence of Napmupou (Napmu Kaibang) who is the in-charge of agricultural rites of the village. (Gangmumei Kamei: The History of Zeliangrong Nagas from Makhel to Rani Gaidinlu, Spectrum Publications, Guwahati/Delhi, 2004, p.310.).

The spleen of the pig is carefully observed in search of good sign. This is locally recognised as Gaukpai Jaomei (Gauk=pig, Pai-spleen, Jaomei=to observe). This is followed by oblation of holy wine to the Supreme God and Ditingmei (God of Earth) including the village deity and ancestors of the village for well being and prosperity.

Then, the pig is roasted and cut into pieces including the liver (Kathin) and distributed to every household of the village for ritual offering called Nap-chanmei. (TC Hoson: The Naga Tribes of Manipur, '96, p.172.) Each family also performs Napkao ceremony in which a fowl is offered to the supreme God for abundant harvest in the year. (Gangmumei Kamei: opcit). Another important ritual of the festival is called Napphun Keimei which means seed sowing (Naphun=paddy seed, Keimei=to sow).

For this ritual, a piece of land is dug out at the paddy field (Laupuk) of Napmupou and some paddy seeds are sown therein with relevant hymns. It is carried out by Napmupei, wife of Napmupou. After rain, if the seeds sprout well it is calculated a rich harvest in the year otherwise a poor harvest. (Personal interview with Moirangchao Goldaimei (78), Napmupou, a residence of Langthabal Khoupum, Imphal west on 26th March 2010.)

In the afternoon, the village elders will walk in procession from one end of the village to the other end singing seed sowing songs for successful cultivation and rich crop.

This is known as Lauphun Lu Shonmei in local dialect. It will start from Napmukaibang. At the end of the March, they will return at the same place and will sing Katu. At the same time some elders will sing Majalu (song of the paddy) inside the house. (Ibid.)

In the evening of the particular day, each household mother performs Napchanmei ceremony in which some pieces of cooked rice (taken out from the first part of the pot before it is served to anybody else) and cooked liver of the sacrificed pig (Guak-kathin) mixed with salt are placed on the top of three stones of the hearth for bountiful harvest.

It is believed that the Goddess of wealth locally known as Champei resides on the hearth stone. After this festival, the villagers are allowed to sow seeds at their respective paddy field or jhumland.

Thus, Napkaodai is an important ritual festival celebrated by these people.