Totangkham and its megalithic culture of Anal Pakan
By B. Paulhring Langhu
Totangkam is a remarkable festival widely celebrated by exceptional merit seekers amongst the Anal Pakan. It is the tradition, especially, among the
wealthy families that a meritorious feast is performed in
cognizance of the outstanding social status. This age old traditional practice, in the modern times is celebrated on different occasions by few notable personalities like Ruwtol Kono (Lamphou Charu-Ramsom), Bs. Ruwangcho (Anal Khullen Limkhu) and KL Thungdiil (Berukhudam) between l942-1951 (See - 'ALUM' by L. Thumthung Pdt.1981).
According to Anal tradition, the Totangkam festival is the biggest most honorable and the most expensive celebration in the land. There was, perhaps a high competition among the clans and the villagers to perform this festival in the olden days. This festival is normally celebrated during the month of April (Pate).
The preparatory course of the Totangkam festival requires certain observations of rituals:
The host prepares Hniingam Ahmun Karntung preparation of rice beer from a cereal called 'Ahmun' and henceforth the high priest (kholpu) is invited to see and taste the rice bear.
The kholpu when found the rice good and satisfactory collected red rope (Hrusin) from the forest and was later tied at the front door post of the house. During this period and onwards till the celebration of the Totangkam, the performer observes sanctions and restriction called 'Genna' whereby no guest is permitted to visit the host, except the closed relatives.
The kholpu then issued permission to start proper preparation for-the festival days.
Significantly, Totangkam festival is closely associated with erection of stone megalithic structures. The stone is first selected before the ceremony through the good services of an expert on the matter. Subsequently, the stone megaliths have become a common feature and the predominant cultural aspects of the Anal Pakans. Moreover, the oral traditions corroborates, that the genesis of Megaliths can be traced with the celebration of Totangkam.
Totangkam as such can be grouped into six stages:
Lnzu/Zodong: It is the first ceremony in which the performer offers 30-35 rice-beer pots, one pig and rice to the villagers. The ceremony is celebrated for one night, with dances and songs.
Butang: The second ceremony performed with 35-40 rice beer pots, one pig, one and rice to the villagers. During this ceremony, a stone is erected measuring in height and length of two ankles of the performer's wife. The ceremony last for one day and one night with dances and songs.
Sa: It is the third ceremony and is celebrated for two nights and one day with dances and songs. On this occasion the performer provides 40-45 rice beer pots, one gayal and rice to the villagers. A stone is erected measuring in height the length of the performer.
Hniing/Lam: The forth ceremony is celebrated for two nights and one day with dances and songs. On this occasion the performer provides 45-50 rice beer pots, one gayal and rice to the villagers.
Aka: The Fifth ceremony is celebrated for two nights and two days with dances and songs. On this occasion, the Performer provides 50-55 rice beer pot, one gay and rice to the villagers. A stone measuring more than the height of the performer is erected with an incomplete fencing (Tenurong).
Du: The last ceremony of the Totangkam festival is celebrated with 50-60 rice-beer Posts, 2 (two) gayal and gayal and rice. The celebration continued for two nights and two days and is followed by dances and songs. On this occasion the incomplete fencing is completed.
Therefore, in course of the festival, megaliths of different sizes are erected on three different ceremonial stages second, third and fifth respectively. Also, the different size of stone megaliths demonstrates the structural identity of the performers. Moreover, at the megalithic cluster sites at Anal Khullen (Limku) and Oklu (Hlungtitol-Vabu), the stone megaliths measuring approximately 60 cms x 35 cms x l0 cms; 150 cms x 60 cms x 15 cms, and 180 cms x 70 cms x 25 cms (Height x Breadth x Thickness) respectively were discovered.
No doubt, the practice of erecting stone is unique in character and significance. These standing monuments reflect the rich cultural heritage, social and religious rituals adherently practiced by the villagers during the Totangkam festival. These monuments also stand as a living object to illuminate the knowledge of the forgotten and neglected cultures. According to oral tradition, the megalithic structures manifest human habitation in its vicinity. In fact, this is substantively corroborated with the identification of megalithic cluster stones near the village. Further, the megaliths found nearest to the village is said to be the earliest one among the cluster stones and the farthest stone from the village is said to be the latest erection.
Thus, it can be deduced as chronological sequences of the date of erecting megaliths. Subsequently, the erection of megaliths is believed to yield a notion that even after death, the host performer\ received honor and regards from the death whose living relatives are partaker of this festival. It marks a tremendous cultural significance of the Anal Pakan.
Notwithstanding, the age-old tradition of erecting stone megaliths amongst the Anal Pakan, it remained unreported for centuries and it remained unreported for centuries and it has also not earned a place in academic sphere of research.
Therefore, I along with my cousin L. Kono undertook a field survey at Anal Khullen (Linkhu) village on the 8th Feb. 2000. When a megalithic cluster site totaling about 70 (seventy) megaliths were discovered in good form. Meanwhile, the findings were reported to the Department concerned of the State Government and presently under the guidance of KK Das, Associate Professor, Department of History, Manipur University.
I am undertaking a project on the study of Megaliths. Unfortunately, in spite of my personal, complaint against destruction works, many of the megalithic structures had been dismantled under the so-called State Government developmental program.
Later, under the aegis of the Anal Naga Students' Union Imphal Branch, in which I also served as the president, an expedition was organized from 28th Sept -2nd October 2000 at Anal Khullen (Limkhu) village and Oklu (Hlungititol-Vabu) village. During our expedition a chunk of megalithic cluster site that numbered about 50 (fifty) was discovered at Oklu (Hlungititol-Vabu). The findings at both sides stood as a living testimony about the old traditions of the Anal
Pakan.
The observation of the sites manifest, that the stone megaliths were erected in groups and sometimes in row. The oral traditions also corroborated that the megaliths were erected in groups belonging to the common family clans and followed proper sequence.
In conclusion, the stone culture of the Anal Pakan in general throws important light about the water God, Wangbarel. To corroborate this a huge stone culture is found at Anal Khullen (Lim Khu) village. Hence, if the stone structure can be scientifically dated, it can be a good source for reconstruction of the history of Manipur with its new chronological discoveries since the megalith can be dated.
(Courtesy: The Sangai Express)
|
Welcome! 
International
Features
