Today is Tarpan
By Ranita Sinha, Kolkata
The custom is not much known to me but as far as I remember, on this day, early morning my father, empty stomach, used to go to the river bank near Sree Sree Radha Madhav Sevashram, Maligaon, Guwahati for Tarpan. He used to carry a big brass dish (sengshengor kupang), Til (sesame seeds), Tulsi Patta (basil leaves), milk, flower and banana, a list of all the names of the deceased in our family and also a khuttei with him.
When once asked what Tarpan means, he replied that it means offering water to one’s deceased parents and forefathers. That, on this day it is customary that the son should offer water to them since if it is offered on this day it gives contentment to the deceased.
He used to tell that, on that day from morning there were long queues of people for Tarpan in the bank of the river Brahmaputra. Every one would wait for their turn with all the ingredients in the brass dish after taking a dip in the river with bare body with only a wet khuttei (Bishnupriya Manipuri Lungi). When ones’ turn would come the priest (Aiga), would chant the mantra and the offerings were done and once the offering was complete again one had to take a bath in the river. After that only the concerned person breaks his fast by taking Prasadam at the temple.
While my father used to go to the bank of the river for Tarpan, my mother used to go to the temple with the Sikda – offerings of rice, pulses, vegetables, spices, cooking oil, sweets, fruits etc. Since, I always used to accompany my mother I witnessed her putting the bag of Sikha in front of the deities and the Priest’s wife (Etema) would ask my mother to utter our Goutra and after that she would chant some mantra and sprinkle some holy water over the bag, then my mother would carry the bag to the place where all the offerings were stored.
On that day there used to be streams of people in the Malthep (Mandir). In the morning, there were only ladies who would come with the Sikda, but as the day would pass the male folk would start to assemble after Tarpan. Then, once Aiga would arrive from the bank of the river, he would perform the Bhog Arati and thereafter all the devotees present were offered Prasadam.
As, life and death are the two realities of life and as the old is replaced by the new, so is my father no longer alive to offer water to his parents and forefathers but his son (my elder brother), replacing him and is offering the same to him and his forefathers. So also Aiga, who used to perform the ritual is no more and has been replaced by his son. And me, replacing my mother’s part and going to the Mandir with the Sikda in memory of my deceased father-in-law, as I am no more a mere daughter but also a daughter-in-law.
Everything changes in life but it never stops moving forward. It has its own pace. So are customs, knowingly or unknowingly passed on to the next generation.
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The momentous day
By Ranita Sinha, Kolkata
Earlier internet meant only mailing, chatting and orkuting, to me. But taking initiative in the blog gave me an opportunity to utilize my energy and knowledge in a positive and productive way. It introduced me to my inner self. Never ever in my wild dreams I dreamt that I will be able to write whatever little I try to jot down which again gained acclamation (both good and bad) from many.
The Blog is like a baby to me, whose growth I have witnessed right from day one till date. Its growth provides me immense pleasure and simultaneously anybody’s accusation creates restlessness within me. In short a sense of possessiveness has developed, which I am sure is same with many who are involved with the blog. Its growth has been steady in this one year and gained popularity at a very short span. It started with a very few number of viewers and contributors but within one year both the numbers have grown extensively.
When I look back it reminds me of many good and bad experiences of mine. It reminds me of the fear that was within me when my first post ‘Sri Sri Bhubaneshwar Sadhu Thakur’ was published, the positive response gained by the articles ‘khuttei‘ and the Rag Picker, the controversy I got involved with the article of Amar Sinha, my endless efforts to try to write on ‘Khuttei‘ and ‘Chakam‘ and many more.
On this special day it will be unfair on my part if I do not thank Rini, BN, RK Harilal Sinha, Suroshree and Rebati kaku who have contributed so many valuable writings in the initial days and are still contributing. Than our family started extending with the works of Tridiv, Sonika, Jyotirmoy, Surajit, Henry, Sanju, Rajesh and the final appreciation goes to the head of this family, Rishi.
Behind the success story of the Blog lies, ample hard work and positive strategy of the owner of this blog, Rishikesh, who has provided us an opportunity to share our bit with our community people. He is always very focused and never confused with what he is going to do with the blog. Whatever little I get to know from him, I learnt that it requires a lot of effort and patience and it is his selfless dedication that amidst his busy schedule he never neglected the blog, which he says is not his property but his community’s. According to him if the blog gets neglected he will be accountable for it to all the viewers and contributors.
Once again on this memorable day I wish that the blog grows more and more in the days to come. There is much more to achieve and a long, long way to go. May this day come year after year and wish that more and more people come and contribute and help to make it BIG.
RK Rishikesh Sinha: Sorry, I can’t say ‘Thanks’ to her. It is a mutual decision between us not to say this word to each other. Very early morning getting this write-up from her made my heart swelled with emotions. When this blog went live late night on this day, she is the first person whom I shared it first. Since then she has been associated with it.
Deep inside I feel happy that she has progressed, she is looking the world, our Bishnupriya Manipuri community, in a different perspective. Managing the two world one that of her family along with the blog, is tough and demanding. I am very much demanding from her. But she has been managing it wonderfully.
I am waiting for the day when her daughter Nanaai will grow up and have the privilege to read all her article and say “That’s my mom”. I will very happy for that day to come.
Interestingly, we have not met with each other minus one glimpse of her when I went to her home in Guwahati to meet her younger sister Namita on the very day when the Assam Tribune carried a write-up on me.
At last, I am grateful to non-Bishnupriya Manipuri readers who drop at this blog and take something from it. They have read, commented and even subscribed to it. The coming days will see lot of people dropping at this blog, I hope they learn from it.
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Aarati In Emar Thar
By Ranita Sinha, Kolkata
The Bishnupriya Manipuri community, also being a Hindu community, performs different pujas. The rituals followed by them are very elaborate. One unique feature of the community is the chanting of Aratis while performing puja. Aratis are performed mainly in the morning, noon and afternoon. The morning aarati is called Mongolarti, noon its called Bhogarati and evening it is called Sendarati. The aartis are mainly sung in Brajabali language, similar to Bengali.
During my last visit to my in-law’s village, New Bhakatpur, Silchar to attend Basanti Puja, pledged by my mother-in-law, I witnessed a very unusual thing there. The Mongalarati and Bhogarati are performed by the village people but I was surprised to see that each and every day, for four days during sendarti, different aarti performers from far off villages came voluntarily and performed aarati. It was like having a competition. Every day there were three to four groups who came to perform. It was a real pleasure to witness so many potentials of our community.
Though all the aarati groups were incomparable, yet one group I would say had an edge on the others- the aarati performers of Silchar Town. They performed the whole aarati in Emar Thar (mother tongue). But they did not fondle the original tune and melody of the songs, only the lyrics were translated to Bishnupriya manipuri language, which I would say is an effort taken by them for which they need a standing ovation.
The performers that came from Silchar were mostly women in Chakchabi and Inafi namely- Sandhya Mukherjee, Ruprekha Rajkumari, Rinku Sinha, Putia Sinha, Lalita Sinha, Munu Sinha and were accompanied by the men in Phaichom and Punjabi namely- Sri Chandrakanta Sinha(Retd. Additional I.T. commissioner), Sri Ramananda Rajkumar and Sri Gunadhar Sinha.
There may be other groups who perform aaratis in our language, but this group is the first I ever heard performing aartis in our language and for that I thought of penning down whatever I could recollect.
Sweet Home
In the passage of time if there is something that changes along with you, is your house. The sweet house where you spent your childhood days, it is quite sure, is different than the house you see now. Either the old house doesn’t exist; if it exists, it has been refurbished to the modern look and necessity.
By Ranita Sinha, Kolkata
Till one or two decades ago most of the Bishnupriya Manipuri houses had joint families. The houses used to be quite big with numbers of family members. Most of the houses had a big hall room in the middle of the house called ‘dangor ghar’ or ‘bughgor kutha’ and few bedrooms attached to the hall room which are separated by bamboo wall, whose doors had no system to close and were accessible to all 24×7. The only privacy maintained in the bedrooms were by hanging a curtain at the door tied with the help of a thin iron string or a cloth string. The kitchen was built at the rear end of the house. Almost all the houses had a vast varandah in the front which is either L shaped or had rooms on either side of it called the ‘mankalor kutha’ making the front of the house look like the alphabet “H”.
However, now the Bishnupriya Manipuri houses are no more having joint families. As days are passing the trend of nuclear family is gaining momentum. The joint families split due to many reasons – may be because of ones area of source of income, sometimes to provide better education to the children, sometimes may be because of too many members in a joint family etc., that an individual has to make arrangements for his own family. Whatever may be the reason, but nowadays, nuclear families are in the limelight.
Sooner or later most of the Bishnupriya Manipuris manage to build a house during their lifetime. Some are fortunate enough to manage to build a house during early days of their service tenure but mostly it is seen that they build it with the money they get after retirement as PF. It is not that a Bishnupriya Manipuri earns less than other community people and for that he is not able to build a house. But the main reason is that most of the Bishnupriya Manipuris are overburdened with liabilities which they have to prioritize, and by the time the liabilities are over they find that their service tenure also got over. So, money gained after retirement comes as the only source with which they manage to build a small and cozy house they dream to build for their children. They spent their entire saving of life to build the house.
Exceptions are few, unique feature that are found in the structure of most of the Bishnupriya Manipuri houses are the age old “L” pattern or “H” pattern. When first built the houses have nice outlook. But as years pass by and the children grow to the age of their marriage the pattern of the houses also change. Since the houses built are not enough to accommodate a new bride by providing a whole room exclusive to her, again a necessity, a new room is built attached to the main house. If the family had one son, the extension ends there. But it is again a rare case to have only one child and as such the extension of room keeps on taking place and once it is over the outlook of the house changes totally. Now, how the architecture of your house has changed from the first mark of memory – something refreshing, old memories tumbling out. Do share.
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Those Golden Old Days
Mom’s thrashing or scolding did not hurt me much but her comparing me with others would always hurt me and this act of her’s would always crop an urge inside me to grow up early, so that I would not have to hear all the craps again and again.
By Ranita Sinha, Kolkata
Taking the cup of tea in my hand, I walked into the living room and the bedroom, finding everything slick and span and with the calmness around, which was a rare phenomenon at the presence of my daughter, I felt a sense of contentment and satisfaction in me. I put the cup of tea aside and laid on the bed looking at the ceiling fan, with both my legs in the air, touching the ground.
Lying on the bed and looking at the rotating blades of the fan, it made me ponder how fast my life had undergone change and what I had left behind. I wondered how few years back my day would start in the morning with a thrashing from my mother, an everyday routine, for sleeping till late hours and getting late for school.
Once awaken, how I would make everyone busy, right from my father ironing my clothes, my brother putting my breakfast into my mouth, while I myself was struggling to tie my long hair and my mother packing my lunch box and screaming at me of not being ashamed of my younger sister who used to reach school on time, doing everything by herself.
Paying little heed to my mother’s words as it seemed a part of my daily routine, I sat out for school where again as most of the day I had to stand on the late line, where our headmistress would come and caned me to make sure it does not happen again, but, alas! poor me, always late and think after the canning if there was any place on earth where one could escape the thrashings and canning.
Back from school again I would find my mother, with both her hands in her waist and with scornful eyes, waiting at the gate for me. For me, it was the most scariest moment in the world, reaching home late. Seeing her, my mind would always keep on calculating which way to run to escape her hitting. Sometimes she would be successful and sometimes not. Once inside home, I would always scold my younger sister, who was in the same school for reaching home early and for whom I used to get regular scoldings and and beatings.
While taking lunch after coming from school my mother would warn me not to go out like a ‘munilaba’,(a Bishnupriya Manipuri term whose meaning I am not clear about) rather I should remain inside the home, either doing my homework or taking a nap. But it seemed I always enjoyed, going against her wishes and when she would take rest I crept out of the house with a little ‘hidol’ (to feed fish) and a fishing rod and used to fish till it is dark or at the most till my mother canned me home, making a mock of myself in front of the neighbors.
The worst of all was when she used to make me take my bath regularly in the evening as she complained that I stink just like a fisherman and than make me sit with my books till dinner gets ready. When she would find me taking nap as was natural after the whole day’s tiring activities, she would start comparing me with my two elder brothers, my younger sister and with each and every single boy or girl of my age in the neighborhood. According to her, every child in the locality was good in studies and behavior, except me.
Mom’s constant bickering and scolding did not hurt me much but her comparing me with others would always hurt me and this act of her, would always crop an urge inside me to grow up early, so that I would not have to hear all the craps again and again.
But now, when my urge of growing up is fulfilled, I regret and wish if I would have been in that period for a few more years of my life. Looking back, it seems those days were the golden days of my life, which I will always miss, mainly my mother’s scoldings and her all typical Bishnupriya Manipuri terms that she used while scolding me, of which some I understood and the rest would go above my knowledge of Bishnupriya Manipuri glossary.
Phira Raath (kaang) in Kolkata
Phira Raath (kaang) was celebrated on 12th of July 2008 by the Bishnupriya Manipuri people of Kolkata at the residence of Sri Kunja Singha at Bagher Khol with great keenness.
Ranita Sinha, Kolkata
The brightly decorated Kaang was drawn and taken out on the road by chanting Hari Naam. This time though the professional Isalpa was not present, yet the devotees chanted Hari Naam with full warmth and devotion while drawing the chariot.
But the day did not end here. There was a singing mehefil where most of the people participated which was fun filled and at last thirty minutes past midnight everyone proceeded towards their home.
Sri sri Jagannath Prabhu Rath Jatra, Kolkata
By Ranita Sinha, Kolkata
The day started with the deities-Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra, being taken out from the altar by the Brahmin and putting them on the colorfully decorated Rath(chariot/kaang) amidst a ritual procession of Hari Naam being chanted by the devotees followed by Arati.
Later, men and women of all ages, flanked by Bishnupriya Manipuri traditional attires and not to forget the Namsha put by all, the Kaang was drawn, with the Dakulas and Isalpas leading the procession by chanting Hari Naam and other devotional songs. At many places, Dhol Chalan was also performed by the young BM boys and girls led by Bibhul Sinha from Guwahati, which made the procession more colorful and authentic. The people who flocked at the roadsides to have a glimpse of the procession were later seen joining it and also at many places, the chariot was stopped by the people to make offerings to the deities.
After an hours procession the Rath was brought back to the place of Pali, where the Senda Arati was performed followed by the Joidev. In the Joidev most of the devotees irrespective of age and gender participated with full enthusiasm, which took the ambiance of pali at a village malthep. The occasion was made more special by the presence of Smt. Kalavati Devi and Bimbavati Devi.
Along with the Joidev traditional Manipuri dance performances and Dhol Chalan were presented by the students of Smt Kalavati Devi and Sri Kunjo Singha followed by Bimbavati Devi’s Thabal Chongba.
At the end Prasadam (Khechuri, labra, khar, brinjal fry, papad fry, tak, kheer and sweets) was served to all. The Prasadam was, prepared by Bibhul Sinha and Meera Singha. It was the selfless effort of Sri Nirmal Sinha, Kunja Singha, Bibhul Sinha and Meera Singha that made the occasion a grand success.
On 12th of July 08 again Phira Rath will be celebrated at the same venue. All are cordially invited to attend the occasion and make it a success.
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Golden thread
Hidol is not just the very own delicacy of the Bishnupriya Manipuri community but it is like the golden thread that weaves the whole community people to their origin.
By Ranita Sinha, Kolkata
As ‘makei di roti sarso da saag‘ relates to the Punjabis, ‘macher jhol‘ to the Bengalis and ‘khar‘ to the Assamese etc, ‘hidol‘ is related to the Bishnupriya Manipuriis. Hidol is the fermented preparation of dry small fish and katchu.
A Bishnupriya Manipuri food habit can hardly be described without the preparation of a dish with hidol. Irrespective of economic status, geographical extremity etc., hidol asserts equal fervor from the whole Bishnupriya Manipuri community people.
A Bishnupriya Manipuri, whatsoever sophisticated he/she may be, maybe ashamed of introducing himself/herself as a Bishnupriya Manipuri, yet their ultimate relish is paltoi or irolpa. Most of the Bishnupriya Manipuris staying away from their home may or may not receive anything else from home by courier but a parcel of hidol is a must!
To prepare a dish with hidol like paltoi or irolpa is very easy but a huge amount of effort is required to prepare hidol. For the preparation, dry small fish is first cleaned and washed and put in the sun until it is completely dry. Than the dried fish is grinded in a ‘gahali‘ or a ‘banki‘. Once the grinding part is complete, ‘katchu‘ is cut into small pieces and put in it at a definite proportion and grinded until it mixes properly.
Once the mixture is complete, it is put aside. Then in the inside of the hollowed bamboo container known as ‘bahar chung‘ (used to store hidol), cleaned and dried earlier is greased with mustard oil properly. Inside it greased leaves of lemon are put and than hidol is put into it. After the ‘chung‘ is full again a layer of lemon leaves is spread and than the mouth of the ‘chung‘ closed tightly with a ball like structure made with clean clothes and the chung is kept closed for at least a week, allowing the mixture to ferment properly. After a week hidol is ready to be consumed.
Hidol is the main ingredient with which paltoi and irolpa are prepared. To prepare paltoi, a small quantity of hidol is taken and roasted on a tava. This roasted hidol is than again mixed with salt and green chilli, once it is properly mixed water is added to it as required. Sometimes to make the paltoi more tasty roasted ‘cheng‘ fish is put to it. To bring added flavour fresh dhania patta is put, also herbs like tokpaningkong and miangpa are added.
But the preparation of irolpa is a bit different. There are also different types of irolpas too: tomato irolpa, tomato berendi irolpa, kholor irolpa kola thoror irolpa, tera irolpa, choha irolpa , uri irolpa, sepator irolpa, bathkhoi irolpa etc.
To prepare irolpa the desired vegetable is cut and washed and put to boil with dal, green chilli and when the whole thing starts boiling a small quantity of hidol is put to it and salt is added as per required. When it is fully cooked excess water is drained off and the cooked vegetable, dal and chilli are smashed properly and than the water put aside was mixed to it. Different kinds of herbs are also added to enhance the aroma and taste of the dish.
The taste of paltoi and irolpa is awesome but at the same time it is healthy too. As oil is not added to it, it is very healthy. Also paltoi works as an appetizer and it also helps in digestion. A real Bishnupriya Manipuri’s morning starts with a dish full of rice with paltoi. It is consumed with same enthusiasm if prepared for breakfast, lunch and dinner simultaneously.
Hidol is not just the very own delicacy of the Bishnupriya Manipuri community but it is like the golden thread that weaves the whole community people to their origin.
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Bishnupriya Manipuri Weekdays
Bishnupriya Manipuri weekdays are vanishing from the consciousness of the community. But no more. Read
By Ranita Sinha, Kolkata
How many of us (the Bishnupriya Manipuri people) do really know Sunday as Lamboishing and Thursday as Shakolsher? Someone would say they have heard it once or twice uttered by their parents or grand parents; again some would wonder what it is all about. These are the Brishnupriya Manipuri terms used to address the seven days of the week.
I have heard it many years back when I used to visit my parental village from my grand parents and from the elderly people. Also my mother sometimes used to utter “Aji te Shakolsher, aji niramish radani“.
But nowadays these terms are not heard at all. We are very much comfortable with either addressing the seven days of the week in English as Sunday, Monday or in Bengali as Ravibar, Sombar etc.
Many of us does not even know that there are Bishnupriya Manipuri terms to address the seven days of the week. Myself knew that there are fixed terms but didn’t know exactly how to address them. So, during my recent visit to my in-laws village I collected the information which I would like to share with you all.
In Brishnupriya Manipuri, Sunday is known as Lamboishing, Monday is Ninthoapa, Tuesday is Leipakpa, Wednesday is Imsha Imsha, Thursday is Shakolsher, Friday is Erei and Saturday is Thanksha.
If the days are put in sequence it will be Lamboishing, Ninthoapa, Leipakpa, Imsha Imsha, Shakolsher, Erei and Thanksha.
Though we do not use these terms in our day to day conversation still I feel we should know at least that we also have our own terminology to address the seven days of the week.
Update: Rebati Mohan Sinha
I would just like to mention here that the pronunciation of these Bishnupriya Manipuri week days defer from place to place. Lamoiching (Lamboishing), Ningthoukapa (Ninkthoapa), Sakolsel (Shakalsher) and Thangcha (Thanksha).
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Wish you a very happy and prosperous Phagua
Holi the festival of colour and joy is celebrated with great enthusiasm by all. This festival is celebrated in different ways by different communities. Our Bishnupriya Manipuri community also has its own way of celebrating this colourful festival.
By Ranita Sinha, Kolkata
Holi or Phagua is a major festival of the Bishnupriya Manipuri community. In the villages on the day of ‘Phagu Purnima‘ most of the individuals fast during day time. On that day the ‘Firal‘ (Bishnupriya Manipuri holy flag), put on each and every house of the village are collected. With the poles of the ‘Firal‘ a tower like structure with a hollow inside is built. The structure is called the ‘Jarma“. The ‘Jarma‘ is built on the empty paddy field.
After sunset all the villagers irrespective of gender, age and status assemble near the ‘Jarma‘ with flowers and bhog (fruits, sweets etc) to offer to the Lord. The village priest than appears at the site with the idol of the village temple and prepares for the puja inside the empty space under the ‘Jarma‘.
After the preparation is complete the priest performs the puja amidst ‘Arati‘ and other devotional songs sung by the villagers. Once the puja ritual is complete the ‘Jarma‘ is set on fire. Then all the villagers circles round the fire thrice with folded hands with the prayer that all sufferings may be burnt along with the holy fire and that a new and prosperous life be ahead of everyone. Once it is complete the young boys and girls put colour on the foreheads of the elders and take their blessings by touching their feet. Then everyone present their put different types of colours on one another.
When everybody is overdosed with fun they return to their home and break their fast with a well cooked vegetarian meal. After that for next five days holi is celebrated in the villages.
During these five days, people of the villages form groups and go from house to house singing ‘Hari Naam‘ and other devotional songs and collect money. This is called ‘Hari-Kayani‘. The people who go for ‘Hari-kayani‘ do not enter the houses. They stand in the court yard and sing the songs. Once the singing is complete they utter ‘Hari Hari Bola, A Hari‘. Then the lady of the house brings some money in a ‘Selpak‘ (a standing dish used to serve paan) and put in the floor in front of the group. The group collect the money and leave.
For five days different groups of ‘Hari-kayani‘ visit the houses. There is fun in the atmosphere for those five days. The money collected are later offered for developmental works of the respective village temples. The younger generation again sometimes have grand feasts with the money collected by them.
Thus, in this way the Bishnupriya Manipuri people celebrate their Phagua in the villages. The article is just an attempt by me to recollect my memories of ‘Phagua‘, which, once I celebrated long back in my parental village. As such, the terms used may not be accurate. Please feel free to point out the errors.
Wish all the Bishnupriya Manipuri people a very Happy and Prosperous Phagua.
Interested! Read more
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Sri Sri Bhubaneshwar Sadhu Thakur by Ranita Sinha
Bishnupriya Manipuri Status in Google by Rishikesh Sinha
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