Reflection on the occasion of Me-Dam-Me-Phi

Though the Ahoms, the descendants of the ancient well-cultured Tais have been observing their own religious tradition Me-Dam-Me-Phi since ancient times, it was the appreciable efforts of many wise and Me-Dam-Me-Phi is one of the important festivals observed annually by the Ahom or Tai Ahom community. It's observed on January 31 every year in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh as this ethnic community spreads across these two States. The Ahom chronicles reveal that Siukapha, the founder of the Ahom dynasty, on arrival at Soumar Pith, along withearned people of the Ahom society including Nabin Borgohain and Baparam Hatibaruah, two venerable personalities of the community that made the observance of Me-Dam-Me-Phi in 1983 in Guwahati possible and which resulted in the declaration of January 31 as a holiday by the Assam government. Also, these two trailblazers took pains to prepare the rituals of Me-Dam-Me-Phi in order that the festival could be observed in the same way and following the same rituals in every part of the State.

Undoubtedly, Me-Dam-Me-Phi has no longer remained an ethnic festival only, rather it has become a festival of the greater Assamese. The Tai Ahoms believe that if oblations are offered to the departed ancestors on this auspicious day, people gain mental strength and the forefathers' blessings make the year a prosperous one. In the recent times, holding of quiz, literary, traditional games competitions and scintillating cultural programmes of the Tai Ahoms is indeed a positive aspect of the observance of this significant day. It's really a good sign that the foreign researchers also have shown their goodwill to study and research the traditional religious festivals of the Tai Ahoms. It has been seen that all the people of Assam, irrespective of caste and creed, participate in this festival of offerings to the dead.

Though Me-Dam-Me-Phi means oblations offered to the dead and sacrifices to gods, it has a universal appeal to all sections of people and it is celebrated for the welfare of the masses and the society. This festival not only reflects the manners and customs of the Ahoms, but also is instrumental in creating unity, feeling of brotherhood and mutual understanding among the new generation.

But, it's worrying and painful to see that today the community is wanting in unity and integrity as far as celebration of this festival is concerned. Two or three different committees are formed with different people in the same village to celebrate the same which implies the division in the community. We should never forget that it was not the ideology of Siukapha and that the Ahom dynasty saw a gradual fall only because of some evil minds which were constantly being ruled by evil design to bring division and hence gain political power. It's high time we asked these questions to ourselves- what is the objective that lies in observing the Me-Dam-Me-Phi in such a comprehensive manner? Shall we, the Ahoms, be able to embrace all irrespective of caste and creed as one among us paying homage to our forefathers? How can we involve all those who are reverent towards our tradition and the people in this ceremony of offerings to the ancestors? And how can we make it a reverential memorial festival of the Assamese? Let the significance and purity of the Me-Dam-Me-Phi be realized and duly revered.

Dipen Gogoi

Teok, Jorhat

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