Conclusion
The Kabui people worship different deities, gods, goddesses, and benevolent spirits, in addition to their Supreme God Tingkao Ragwang for prosperous life, and also safety from unwanted events.
They treat their ancestors as their household deity, and collectively call Kairao in their tongue. They usually perform a number of rituals. Every ritual is associated with one or more processes of predicting omens like gulim-dansanmei, lang-paimei, gokpai, and release of a small chicken (suong-loi), oblation (napchanmei), and libation of rice-beer (joupaankeimei). This community has 12 important festivals of their own. Of them, the most important one is the Chakan-Gan-Ngai. It is not only performed by the TRC group of this tribe, but also by its kindred tribes like the Liangmai, Zeme, and Inpuime (commonly known as Zeliangrong). Now-a-days it becomes the common festival of these four communities and the Government of Manipur has also declared it as a state festival. All the Kabuis who follow traditional religion, known as the Tingkao Ragwang Chapriak (TRC), join this festival. In this way, to date the followers of the Tingkao Ragwang Chapriak (TRC) share and practise all the festivals and ceremonies along with their associated rites and rituals; thereby, sustaining their forefathers’ primordial religious practices. Like the TRC Kabui, the Liangmai and the Zeme feed the souls of the deceased person(s) of their respective families with food and drink till the common farewell day, called Chakebou (by the Liangmai), and Hegaaze( by the Zeme). They have a common theme of sending off the souls of the deceased persons of the year either in the last part of December or early part of January every year.The primordial religion of the Kabuis is confined to the followers of the Tingkao Ragwang only. Further, the emerging religious tradition has spread to other tribes who follow Heraka tradition.
It is to be mentioned that, the TRC group of the Kabuis have constructed a kalumkai (house of worship) for the Supreme God and it is named as Tingkao Ragwang Kalumkai - the house of worship of Tingkao Ragwang.2 It is a hall with sacred sanctum inside with the inscriptions Au Haipou Tingkao Ragwang.3 The Supreme God Tingkao Ragwang is represented by a circle with six divisions inside. The circle represents the cosmos, the universe, while the blank spaces represent the planets and the stars. The two horizontal (ditung) lines and the two vertical (didet) lines represent zodiac signs. The middle of the top three divisions carries the symbol of the Sun while the middle of the bottom three divisions carries the symbol of the moon. Other seven cells/divisions are kept blank. At the pedestal is kept a spear (kkhun), a long-bladed knife (buibang), and a small hoe (lougai), and items such as rice (nap), fruits, flowers (red coloured flowers are excluded), scented sticks, and sacred fire (now-a-days it is replaced by candles). There are writings like Busin Meipu (the owner of/the one who holds the souls of all living things), Bucha Meipu, (the originator/the one from whom originates the lives of all living things) and also Budam Meipu (the owner who gives the lives of all living things) to a side at the front of the sanctum.The Supreme God in kalumkai is worshipped by the permanent priest (mooh) of the village. It is normally worshipped on every Sunday and full-moon day, but there are exceptions also. In special cases, if someone needs to worship, they request to open the kalumkai; it is permitted and he performs worship.
Acknowledgements
The author acknowledges her gratitude to the following:
Chunkeirung Kamei, Vice President (TRCP), Assam, Manipur, and Nagaland; and Vice President, Kalyan Ashram, Manipur; Vogendra Daimei, Peimei, Chingmeirong Kabui/ Rongmei village, Imphal West district; Rajani Palmei, Major Khul, Imphal West district; Tomba Kabui, Kakhulong, Imphal West district; K.
Achun Kamei, Major Khul, Imphal West district; Priscilla Gangmei, Thangmeiband Muzi Khul, Imphal West district; P.G. Margaret, Raengdailung village, Churachandpur district; Buiraona Gangmei, Mahabali Kabui Khul, Imphal East district; Hera Kamei, Pandon, Kabui Khul, Imphal West district and Pandiful Gangmei, Moirangkhom Kabui Khul, Imphal West district.Notes
1 Due to modernisation, most of the children stay in their respective homes, but rituals are celebrated on occasion in their dormitories (Khangchu and Luchu). Till date they have their separate dormitory houses, attached to the houses of their respective care takers.
2 The information is based on the kalumkai of Chingmeirong village.
3 Au Haipou Tingkao Ragwang, an address with respect such as Oh Lord Tingkao Ragwang. I visited the kalumkai of Chingmeirong village on 3 April 2022. Though a Sunday, normal worship ritual was conducted. However, a special blessing ceremony (Nouna Mungkhao Kalummei) was performed for the welfare of a new couple.