|
|
|
Chalo Loku |
|
Tirap is an enchanting land blessed with many unexplored treasures. Historically the district is shrouded in myth and legend. It emanates an aura of vibrating cultural life of the tribal people and throbs with the lovely rhythm of their music, dances, customs and traditions. In tune with their ethnic backgrounds and social binding, the Noctes celebrate a number of festivals at different periods of the year. Chalo Loku is by far the most colourful and popular festival. Like most of the tribal festivals, Chalo Loku is also an agricultural festival. The name derives from three words: Cha, which means paddy, Lo, which means season, and Loku, which means festival. So Chalo Loku means harvest festival. It is celebrated in the month of October-November annually after the harvest of paddy and before the start of the new jhum cultivation. It is also an occasion to bid adieu to the old year and welcome the New Year with renewed hopes. The festival lasts for three days. The first day is called Phamlamja, the second day is Chamkatja and the third and final day is called Thanlangja. As the festival gets nearer, every minute detail is taken care of and supervised by the elders to ensure smooth and grand celebrations. In fact, lots of efforts are put in to keep everything ready for the festive occasion. It includes preparation of rice beer and traditional dresses and arrangement of buffalos and pigs, all sine qua non for a good celebration. Invitation to the dear and near ones and friends in the neighboring villages are sent well in advance. On the day of Phamlamja, animals like buffaloes and pigs are killed for meat and the villagers engage themselves in hectic preparations for the next day. It is also a day for checking and rechecking the traditional costumes, which would be worn during the celebrations. In the past there were many rituals and ceremonies associated with Phamlamja. However, they have been modified or even given up with the passage of time. The second day of Chamkatja, for reasons more than one, is the most important and a very hectic day of activities. The Noctes, since time immemorial, have been having a powerful institution called Paang or Morong, which is in every sense, the pulse of the village and also the highest seat of decision-making. To enable the male members of the family to become full-fledged members of the Paang it is mandatory that every household performs a ritual called Chamkat for every male member who has attained adolescence. This important ritual is observed on Chamkatja. It is only after performing Chamkat that any male member of the village is socially recognized and entitled to participate in all Paang activities and other community works pertaining to the village. But physically disabled and mentally unsound people do not normally perform this ritual for the simple reason that the moment a boy becomes a member of the Paang he is a responsible person having to perform, at times, important assignments of the Paang which a disabled or insane person cannot. Those families who solemnize Chamkat during the Chalo Loku arrange food and drinks for the villagers and friends and also observe a number of rituals related to the ceremony. The maternal uncle of the boy whose Chamkat is being observed has the most important role to play throughout the ceremony. The Thanlangja, which is the final day of the festival, villagers, irrespective of age, sex or social status, take part in folk dances. Dances are performed at the Chief’s house and in the premises of the Paang. The families observing Chamkat also invite the dancers to dance at their houses and in return treat the participants with food, especially meat and drinks. Thanlangja is also a day for the people to visit their relatives and friends and exchange pleasantries. The guests invited for the festival are also warmly sent off on this day with gifts as a token of love and affection. However, today, many of these practices have been done away with for good or conveniently modified to suit the present-day ambience and needs. But the spirit of the celebrations, though rapidly on the wane, has somehow survived at least for now. It is needless to mention that like all festivals Chalo Loku also fosters love, unity and brotherhood. It is an occasion to share happiness and joys with fellow-villagers, friends and relatives. During the Chalo Loku the Noctes invoke the blessings of the Almighty Rang and their Ancestors for good crops, health, happiness and well being of all human beings and animals. The festival also gives the much-needed break to the ever-busy Noctes from the daily toil and moil. The Chalo Loku can easily be described as a celebration of life itself. However, today, enthusiasm among the Noctes in celebrating their festivals has dwindled owing to various factors. But the Noctes must realize that it is only through their culture that they will be identified. So they must not leave any room for levity in protecting their traditional systems at any cost. Today, the youth in particular, have begun to realize the importance of the traditional costumes. In fact, preservation of these costumes with improved varieties, it necessary, can be a great asset for generations to come. The Noctes are the proud inheritors of a rich culture. However, today the big question is: have they been able to preserve and propagate the rich culture so lovingly bestowed on them by their caring forefathers? The answer, I am afraid, is ‘no’. This has greatly been due to the influence of the so-called ‘modernization’. If the trend continues, the Noctes will then sink into oblivion without leaving any footprints on the sands of time. We have heard of tribals vanishing from the face of the earth for failing to protect their identity. Let not the Noctes be one of those. Agreed, today they are living in a dynamic world and they cannot remain prisoners of dogmas. But to protect their identity they must make a conscious effort to safeguard their culture, which was so dear to their ancestors; otherwise history will not forgive them. One big way of preserving their culture is through meaningful celebration of significant festivals like the Chalo Loku. |
|
|
This
is the official web site of The Directorate of Information and Public
Relations & Printing, |
