NAKNYU LUM - CHANG TRIBE

 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 lum was held. In this Naknyu lum 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 Oung Clan. It should be a sudden announcement leaving two day’s 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 grappling big lumps of well cooked meat hang in rowalong bamboo rope. Women play on kongkhin. They too compete with thisinstrument. Men and women, young and old, all engage themselves in feasting andmerrymaking 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, putt he 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 ‘Vuilong’ (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 anyone found outside is harmed. The third day is the day is the day of cleaning the village surroundings and approach roads. After 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 Lum (2) Jeinyu Lum (3) Muong Lum and (4 Monyu Lum