Me-Dam-Me-Fi and its significance
Dr Jogram HatibaruahMe Dam Me Fi, the annual religious festival of the Ahoms
dates back to several centuries. The Tai people are believed to have spread
over different regions of the South East Asia, like South West China, Burma,
Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, North West Vietnam, Cambodia, Asom, Arunachal Pradesh,
Manipur etc.
Though the Tai people lived together with a sense of belonging in and around
the same region in the remote past, for historical reasons, at different points
of time, they disintegrated and started to live in separate regions. In course
of time, due to compelling scenario of their habitat coupled with inhospitable
surroundings, they came under the influence of the religion of the place where
they finally settled. For example, those who migrated to Brahmaputra valley
adopted Hindu religion while their counterparts in Thailand, Myanmar, China,
etc. continued to follow their local religion, namely Buddhism, Taoism,
Confucianism respectively.
According to historians, the Tai Prince Chowlung Suo-Ka-Fa believed to be a
descendant of Devraj Indra (Lengdon) originally migrating from Maulung in Shun
State of Upper Myanmar made an expedition with his followers towards the west
of Maulung with the sheer intention of establishing a kingdom in a suitable
land. In the process, Chowlung, Suo-Ka-Fa encountered unsurmountable obstacles
overcoming the Patkai Range, fought many battles against heavy odds and after
more than a decade long expedition arrived in the land of the Brahmaputra
valley on December 2, 1228 AD. This will go down in the annals of Asom history
as a red letter day for the victory of the Ahom people.
Suo-Ka-Fa was deeply impressed by the charm of the beautiful landscape and open
field of golden crops, spontaneously uttered the words Mung-dun-sun-kham
meaning a land full of gardens of gold. He established a rapport with local
populace, namely, Morans, Borahis, Mattks, etc, and because of his political
acumen, he was soon able to establish the Tai kingdom. (Ahom kingdom) in the
Brahmaputra valley with its capital township at the foot-hills of Charaideo in
Sivasagar district. Later on, the Ahom kingdom was called Asom. Thus
Suo-Ka-Fa laid the foundation of Ahom kingdom (later Asom State) more than 700
years ago.
The Ahom kings ruled over Asom for six hundred years at a stretch, an
uninterrupted rule by a single dynasty unheard of in the history of the world.
When Suo-Ka-Fa entered the Brahmaputra valley, he brought with him menfolk like
Hiloidhari (indegeneously prepared bomb and armoury experts), elephant force,
cavalry, chieftains and other followers and a handful of women. Suo-Ka-Fa made
friendship with the local populace and encouraged his men to intermarry with
local inhabitants like Moran, Borahis, Mattaks etc. in the interest of
proliferation of progency for expansion of Ahom kingdom.
Under the patronage of Suo-Ka-Fa, the people lived in peace and harmony, fought
many battles with bravery under the dynamic and able leadership of hero Lachit
Barphukan and protected Asom from the onslaughts of the Moghuls seventeen
times. This bears an eloquent testimony to the unity among the people in times
of war and emergency. The women were given due respect in society and they
helped the menfolk by preparing Kavach Kapor (believed to give protection as a
talismen against the enemies when worn before going to the battle field. The
Asomiya women were expert in weaving cloths with dexterity of intricate designs.
In Tai language, Me-Dam-Me-Fi means offer of Puja and prayer in memory of their
forefathers. Me means paying tributes, Dam means forefathers and Fi means
gods and goddesses. In short, Me-Dam-Me-Fi signifies offer of prayer or tribute
in honour of the souls of their forefathers. The Tai Ahoms celebrate this
festival with great jubilation and enthusiasm on January 31 every year and this
day is declared as a State holiday. Although with the passage of time, it has
witnessed some change in the modus operandi of performing Puja, the basic
features remain more or less same.
Me-Dam-Me-Fi is considered as the most important annual religious festival of
the Tai Ahoms. This puja is performed annually to evoke blessings from the
forefathers so that the living generation may live in peace and prosperity.
It is believed that if Me-Dam-Me-Fi is not celebrated in the customary way, the
deities will be displeased and consequently there will be crisis in the State
like political rivalry and infighting, increased activities of militancy,
natural upheavals like floods and earthquakes resulting in loss of human lives
and property. Therefore, performance of Me-Dam-Me-Fi is a must in the interest
of overall well-being of the people and the society.
Me-Dam-Me-Fi is celebrated all over Asom, particularly in Sivasagar, Dibrugarh,
Lakhimpur districts with concentration of Ahom population besides the capital
city Guwahati.
Another attraction of this festival is that people of other communities also
participate in the community feasts and actively associate with the cultural
programmes of music and drama in the evening.
It may be mentioned that majority of the people in Thailand build a Spirit
House in front of their dwelling houses and offer Puja and prayer seeking
blessings from their gods and goddesses for overall well-being of the family.
This is believed to be followed in accordance with Khaban faith.
Me-Dam-Me-Fi symbolises the unity in diversity in a multiracial and
multicultural society like ours bridging the gap between the haves and
have-nots and fostering the gospel of universal fraternity.
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