GUWAHATI: Me-Dam-Me-Phi is the most important communal festival of the Ahoms which is celebrated every year on January 31 in memory of the departed ancestors and remember their contribution to society. It is believed that the concept of worshipping the ancestors is shared with other people originating from the Tai origin.
People belonging to the Tai community are the ones who speak (or formerly spoke) the Tai languages. There are a total of about 93 million people of Tai ancestry worldwide, with the largest ethnic groups being Dai, Thais, Isan, Tai Yai (Shan), Lao, Tai Ahom, and Northern Thai peoples.
The Tai are scattered through much of South China and Mainland Southeast Asia. Tai Ahom, Tai Khamti, Tai Phake, and Tai Aiton are the ones who inhabited parts of Northeast India. Tai peoples are both culturally and genetically very similar and therefore primarily identified through their language.
Coming Meh Dam Meh Phi is one of the important festivals observed by the Tai-Ahom community. The word ‘Meh’ means offerings. ‘Dam’ means ancestors and ‘Phi’ means gods. So, the word ‘Mae Dam Mae Phi’ means oblations offered to the Ancestors' spirits.
During the festival, worship is offered in the name of three gods - Me Dam Me Phi, Dam Chang Phi and Grihadam. The God Dam Chao Phi is associated with the belief in natural powers like creation and destruction, water, lightning and storm, sun, moon, learning, diseases, earth, etc. Worship is done by Ahom priests Deodhai and Bailung by chanting mantras and following the codes given in the Manuscripts (books) - Phralung and Banfi, etc. God Dam Chang Phi is the ancestor God from the sixth to the fourteenth generation of a family. Grihadam is also the ancestor God up to the fourth generation of a family. Grihadam is worshipped by offering in the month of Kati at the time of harvesting new Ahu rice, in the month of Aghon at the time of harvesting new Sali Dhan and at the time of Bihu festivals held over the time of the year.
On the day of Me-Dam-Me-Phi, Chaufi and Dam Chaufi are worshipped because they are regarded as gods of heaven. Changphi and Grihadam are not worshipped on that day because they are regarded as earthly gods.
The Ahoms believe that a man after his death remains as ‘Dam’(ancestor) only for a few days and soon he becomes ‘Phi’ (God). They also believe that the soul of a man which is immortal unites with the supreme soul, possesses the qualities of a spiritual being and always blesses the family. So every Ahom family in order to worship the dead, establish a pillar on the opposite side of the kitchen (Barghar) which is called ‘Damkhuta’ where they worship the dead with various offerings like homemade wine, egg with handoh (a kind of rice powder) along with various other items.
The entire state of Assam is celebrating Me-Dam-Me-Phi today where several parts of the state especially the Ahom community will honour and offer tribute to their ancestors today. Assam Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma took to Twitter to wish the people of Assam.
His tweet read, “Me-Dam-Me-Fi closely connects the past and the present and provides an opportunity to pay tribute to the past Everyone needs to dedicate themselves to strengthen the foundation of Greater Assam with the ideals of the bridge of harmony built by His Majesty Su-Ka-Fai.”
It is said that in ancient times, Me-Dam-Me-Phi was observed for averting any imminent danger, commemorating victory and desiring longevity of life. This festival not only reflects the manners and customs of the Ahoms but also helps to create unity, a feeling of brotherhood and mutual understanding among the new generation.