4.0 Introduction
The Kabui, who are also known as the Ruangmei/Rongmei (Rong/Ruang = south, and mei = people) is believed to be an indigenous ethnic community living in the north eastern part of India.
They are presently distributed in the seven districts of Manipur state, and one district each in Assam and Nagaland. The highest concentrations of Kabui are found in the Tamenglong, Noney, Imphal East, Imphal West, Kangpokpi, and the Senapati districts of Manipur. Scattered pockets are also found in the Cachar district of Assam, Kohima district of Nagaland; and Bishnupur, Thoubal, and Chandel districts of Manipur. Census 2011, Government of India, records the total population of the Kabui tribe in Manipur as 103,908 individuals. They mainly inhabit the hills of Manipur and Nagaland, the valley regions of Assam except that of Haflong areas. The Kabuis/Ruangmei/Rongmei of Assam, Manipur, and Nagaland had their own traditional religious beliefs and practices. In this paper the present author puts more emphasis on the Kabuis/Ruangmeis/Rongmeis of Manipur, who are followers of Tingkao Ragwang as the Supreme God, i.e. Tingkao Ragwang Chapriak (Chapriak meaning followers), in short TRC group. This group has its own distinctive socio-cultural, traditional, and linguistic variants. The Kabui religion consists of the worshipping of gods and goddesses (Dampapu and Dampapui; Napsinmei, Champei, etc.), deities (Karampou-Karampei, Kairao, Kaipa bhamboo, Kaipi bhamboo, etc.), benevolent spirits (Apouna/Ragwang, Bisnu/Bonchanu/Manchanu, Koklumei, Chonchai, Karangong, Kunmei, Lang-bhangla, etc.), and malevolent spirits (Changlhu,Changlhu- lhudai, Changbang-lhudai, Lam-la, Changmei, Chagamei/Pa Ra, etc.). While worshipping, they generally perform sacrifices with a strong belief that they would be helped by the deity and their desire would also be fulfilled. The sacrifice may consist of offerings such as a kind of grass, grains, animal’s blood, or a small chicken (suong-loi) considered to be the substitute of the ailing person. The worship has general and specific purposes; general purposes involve the community’s cause, while specific ones involve individual cause such as the curing of a sick person. Omen prediction process, locally called gulim-dansanmei (literally ritual offering of ginger) and libation of rice-beer (joupaankeimei) is an essential element of all worships. They believe in a Supreme God whom they call Tingkao-Ragwang/Lagwang.DOI: 10.4324/9781003516415-6
51
Besides, they also worship natural objects such as stones for the deities like Kaipi bhamboo, Kaiba bhamboo, and Kairao.
Against this background, the present research intends to unfold traditional religious beliefs and practices, rites and rituals, feasts, and festivals of the Kabui of Manipur who are followers (chapriak) of Tingkao as Ragwang, the king of gods, i.e. the Supreme God. They can be named as a TRC group. However, they have also been exposed to certain forces of change with the advent of Christianity and modernity. The present paper attempts to explore the extent of changes taking place in their religious life. Moreover, it also aims to examine how far the people strive to retain their traditional customs, beliefs, and practices to uphold their identity.
This chapter is based on primary sources of data collected from a field study by employing survey and observation methods. The traditional Kabui people can be found following Heraka faith (a revival religious tradition), Christianity, and traditional faith, beliefs and practices. These people are known as Kabui, Rongmei, or Ruangmei in different localities spread over Assam, Nagaland, and Manipur. This chapter however uses the nomenclature Kabui, and covers those living in Manipur and follow Tingkao Ragwang as the Supreme God. In other words, this chapter engages with the traditionalist Kabui with reference to their gods, deities, rituals, festivals, etc. Ragwang and Lagwang are phonetic variations of the word, meaning Supreme God; in this chapter the name Tingkao Ragwang is used throughout.
4.1