Me-Da-Me-Phi is important festival celebrated by the Ahoms in Assam. During this festival the Ahoms worship the departed souls of their ancestors. Every year on 31st January the ahom people remember their forefathers and worship them. This has been a significant part of their culture. Celebrated only in the Ahom religion this festival is a way of showing respect to the ancestor’s contribution to the society.
The origin of the festival
The origin of this is believed by the Ahoms as when the Lengdon , the king of Mon Phi (the heavenly kingdom) sent two of his grandsons Khunlung and Khunlai to Mong Ri, (which is present day China) the God of Knowledge, Cheng-Pha, advised them to perform Umpha, Phuralong, Mae Dam Mae Phi and Rik- Khwan worships in different months of a year to pay respect to the Phi-Dam (ancestral spirit). Since that day Mae Dam Mae Phi has been celebrated by the Tai Ahom community.
Brief history of the Ahoms
The Ahoms are said to be migrated in the 13th century, to the valley of the Brahmaputra from present-day Myanmar. Ahoms are believed to have created a new state by suppressing the older political system of the bhuiyans. They annexed the kingdoms of the Chhatigar and Koch-Hajo and subjugated many other tribes. The Mughals under Mir Jumla attacked the Ahom kingdom in 1662. Their society was divided into clans or khels. All the divided groups worshipped their own tribal gods.
However, Brahmanas during the first half of the 17th century achieved a great influence and further gave rise to Hinduism. In the region, the Sib Singh Hinduism became a predominant religion. However, the Ahom kings did not entirely let go of their traditional beliefs even after adopting Hinduism. In addition, Ahoms are believed to be the one of the most brave community. The strong worriors fought and won against the Mughal empire seventeen times. In fact, they were the only dynasty not to fall to the Mughal Empire.
Ceremonies of the festival
The festival is celebrated by worshipping two gods, who are Dam Chaufi and Chaufi. Priests conduct the worship according to the tenets laid down in the Ahom religious scriptures and by chanting mantras in the Ahom language. The festival is celebrated privately by families as well as in public. In families, it is observed in the kitchen, where a special pillar called ‘Damkhuta’ is set up that serves as the focal point of the offerings.
Homemade delicacies are served to the ancestors in the form of rice, meat, fish, beans and chickpeas (called mah-prasad), and homemade wine. The public celebration is conducted at Charaideo, Assam, in remembrance of it being the capital of the first Ahom King when the community migrated to Assam in the 12th century.
