The Festivals of Chang Tribe

According to the oral traditional story of the Chang it is said that they have emerged from a place known as "Changsangmongko" and settle at a place called ‘CHANGSANG’ This was the first named village for Changs. There at the centre of the village they construct a platform called "MULLANGSHON". It is a platform of progress and prosperity, which became the public court for deliberating all the major issues & cases heard and judgement delivered.Social issues like village administration, cultivation, festivals, worships, marriage systems, boundaries of the land, war and peace making were also taken up in this platform. Decision delivered and judgements passed from this Mullang Shon become the final order.

The Changs usually observe six major festivals in a year. Out of which the three festivals namely (1) Poang Lem (2) Jeinyu Lem (3) Kundang Lem were monitored by Haongang Clan. The remaining three festivals (1) Muong Lem (2) Naknyu Lem (3) Monyu Lem, were monitored by Ung Clan. In this way the tradition was maintenance for generation and is followed till date.

The counting of the days and the fixation of the festivals were made in the following manners :

At the time of counting the days for fixation of festival a chicken offering is made for appeasing the God. Each Clan while performing such, a ritual has to observe much sanctity. All festivals were fixed six days ahead except the KUNDANG LEM and NAKNYU LEM. The Kungdang Lem was treated as the youngest and fixed five days ahead. Whereas the Naknyu Lem was treated with much awe, so was fixed just before two days ahead. It should start on the dark-moon-day as the main festival day.

KUNDANG LEM

Kungdang Lem is observed in the eight month (April) of Chang Calendar. This festival is observed for five days only. During the first three days, materials for construction of field huts in Jhum cultivated areas are collected and the area is tested on the fourth day. On the fifth days the relatives collectively go to the fields for construction of the huts. Thereafter, in the evening, feasting take place at home after they return from the fields. The sixth day is also kept for feasting. The seventh day is observed as “AOLAAK JAANBU” – planting or raising a kind of tree which bear bunches of sour fruits.

 NAKNYU LEM

It was believed that in ancient days, during the forefather’s time, the entire world was enveloped with total darkness, day and night could not be differentiated. The darkness was so thick that people could not even go out for collection of firewood and water. They remained inside their home for complete six days and by then they become short of everything. In order to keep the fire burning inside homes they burned out every available things and when nothing was left they are compelled to burn even the horns of buffaloes, mithuns and cows that were hang in front of the houses.

On the seventh day the light came as usual. The people of the earth became extremely happy and by way of giving thanks to the God this Naknyu lem was held. In this Naknyu lem no worship is performed but certain rules are strictly observed.

This festival is held on the eleventh month of Chang calendar which falls during July. The counting of the days and the announcing of the day is made by the Ungshedbou of Ung Clan. It should be a sudden announcement leaving two days gap only. It starts on the last day of the moon, i.e. flour grinding day. Domestic animals are slaughtered, young and old play spinning tops while music and laughter pervades from the women folks as they play the kongkhin (in Chang) made out of bamboo split. Village streets are swept and cleaned so do houses and their surroundings. Firewood and water are stocked.

The second day, which is the dark-moon-day is called ‘Youjem’. On this day no one go out of the village, even for drawing water . There are exchanges of gifts and food items among the friends and relatives. Meat, wine and freshly packed breads are plentifully used. Sports like Top spinning, tug of war, high jump, long jump, climbing of oiled pole and jumping and grapping big lumps of well cooked meat hang in row along bamboo rope. Women play on kongkhin. They too compete with this instrument. Men and women, young and old, all engage themselves in feasting and merrymaking the whole day but no dancing.

On this occasion the footpath and all the houses are decorated by placing leaves; a kind of herbal shrub called ‘NGOUNAAM’ (Eiziholfziablanda) which is a must to plant at every front of the house forward off evil spirits. The people, especially the children, put the leaves in their ear lobes so that no evil spirit will harm them.

In the evening, at the time of sunset, everybody remained inside the house. No man walks and rooms outside. During this hour, in the front and back door of every house a seed called ‘Vui long’ (Tape seeds) are buried inside paddy husks and burnt. Every member of the family remained still to hear the bursting sound of the seed. The tape seed explodes and if the sound and the exploding fragments bounds back towards the house . It is a bad omen and if the sound is good and the fragments bounds off it means good fortune. At this hour, ‘Shambuli Muhgha’, a God from heaven descends and visits every house and any one found outside is harmed. The third day is the day is the day of cleaning the village surroundings and approach roads. Aftyer the celebration of this festival other activities like cleaning of paths leading to the fields and neighboring villages starts . A daughter born in this month is named as Monyu.

Besides, the Chang celebrated (1) Poang Lem (2) Jeinyu Lem (3) Muong Lem and (4 Monyu Lem