Among many rituals being followed up by Bishnupriya Manipuri community, Apokapa Dau Homa Dena is the one which is of relevance because here all sakei people congregate and celebrate it thus building up a bonding and comity amongst them.
By Rebati Mohan Sinha
All human beings are strongly influenced by culture and ritual inheritance, so the 
Bishnupriya Manipuris are no exception to that. Our ancestors have been celebrating various rituals like birth rite, marriage rite and funeral rite and so on for the well being of family and no one could ask them, the purpose of these rituals.
During our childhood we enjoyed having played with our kith and kins’ children, came for attending such rituals. I prefer one such ritual, Apokpa Dau Homa Dena where our all sakei people assemble to celebrate at a house of lokei-r senior most member.
Some one may ask who is Apokpa? I may not be able to explain properly; but what ever I have seen and learnt, can be stated. This is an idol of senior most ancestor(purbo-purus) usually kept at the south-west corner of backyard of the house. It is a semigod worshipped by all lokei of our Bishnupriya Manipuri in the month of phalgun‘s shuklapaksha every year.
This is an unique ritual where a purohit is not required; but an old or a middle aged woman is a must. Four in numbers. Sidhwa’s (sikhda)are prepared,varieties of fishes like bual, cheng, a puti-maach are very much required and Rahu or kaatla(bau) is suplimentary. Pujasthol is pre- determined i.e the south-west corner of the Mankol (varandah). The woman concerned arranges everything, even bringing the idol from its place. Once the puja is over, the fish are cut in to pieces for the feast. The preparation is always done by menfolk and the womenfolk help them by cutting vegetables and washing dal etc.
Once the cooking is over, the bhog is dressed up and ready for offering. The households are called for the last prayer. The volunteers are ready for paaros parani and beelani (distribution of food). The elders are first called to sit behind the ‘challook‘, later followed by women and children.
After the food, people start gossiping, some play cards and some are busy with dola-doli. I enjoy their company, because they air their grievances, which are never disclosed to any one before. Such gathering always gives prominence to people who want to share their thoughts with others, forgetting their differences. I believe in rituals and enjoy them fully.
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This piece was an wonderful information on Bishnupriya Manipuris. My MPhil and PhD research from Delhi University was on Bishnupriya Manipuris . I love this community and would like to associate more and be of any help to the community. I teach in Aligarh Muslim University. I am grateful to this community. In this digital era when everyone is glued to their mobile phones, Apokpa ritual can provide an opportunity for community gatherings and dissemination of cultural knowledge.
Not only as occasional worship, I’ll say Aopkpa had developed itself as a complete religious faith. Today many manipuris follows Apokpa as their religion. There is no doubt that Apokpa worship was our primitive religion. The word ‘Apokpa’ came from ‘Pokpa’ which means one who have given birth of us, that means our ancestors. So Apokpa is form of ancestor worships. There are 3 kind of Apokpas’ 1)Imung-Pokpa (Apokpa of Home), 2) Sakei-Pokpa (Apokpa of Lokei, and 2) Yek-Pokpa ( Apokpa of Clan). There is lots evidence of that our forefathers used to worship their late fathers/grandfathers/great-grandfathers as Gods, because they thought after deaths their souls did stay there to take care of us. Have a visit at http://www.manipuri.itgo.com. This, Animism lately developed in a form of a religious belief, which was in practice among the manipuris before the advent of Hinduism in valley of Manipur. The essence of that religion has always been ancestor worship and tolerance.
We should learn about our forefathers olden beliefs, and the ritual they practiced in their religious life. We should learn from this great ancient religion of ours not only what to believe in or how to perform rituals but also how to live life in our own way.
A really nice and important post that worth an A+. It’s a pleasure that finally some sane people of our society are coming forward and propagating some real brilliant ideas!
a very well composed article….nice to read..
thanks and regards to Sh. Rebati M Sinha for his continious support to the initiative…