DIGBOI, Nov 17 � The traditional feasting on the rice obtained from the new paddy harvest of the season has got off with mirth and excitement in the Singpho villages in Margherita subdivision.
The Singphos are justly famous for their chat makai (topola bhaat) � steamed rice wrapped in kow-paat, and for this they use four special varieties of rice � soft, sticky and delicious Khowji, Myatong, Pikhi and Changkhow. The Assam Agriculture University in Jorhat has reportedly accorded patent right of the first three varieties of paddy to the Singpho community of Assam as their indigenous produce.
Apart from these indigenous varieties, the Singphos cultivate a number of borrowed varieties such as Dighrong � longish like Basmati but sticky and indigenous to the Tai-Khamyang tribe inhabiting the Powaimukh area, Naharkatiya, and Myunglang among the softer species. The coarser species include Solpona, Budumoni, Bora, etc. The Singphos are in the habit of storing the thrashed yield unlike their Assamese neighbours who keep the un-thrashed sheaves in their storage.
The weather being very favourable and conducive to paddy cultivation this year, the Singphos together with the other segments of the agricultural community of the subdivision are getting a fair deal of produce for their toil. For this reason, the ritual of feasting on new paddy harvest (na chaul) this time has gained an extra dose of enthusiasm among the Singphos.
As the custom goes, the household celebrating the ritual has to deal out to every other household of the village at least two packs of chat makai, one pack of roasted pork or chicken and one pack of roasted vegetables, not excluding the inmates of the village monastery. The distribution has to be completed within 4:30 in the morning. The cooking continues for most part of the night and is assisted by the womenfolk and the youths of the neighbourhood.
This ritual of feasting thus binds all the Singpho families within a village in the sealing bond of unity and harmony. Panlong Ompop, who has done her masters in Assamese and is currently teaching in a junior college, has told this correspondent upon inquiry that in her village Ketetong, about 6 km off from Margherita township, there are more than 80 Singpho families. She also informed that alcoholic substances, including the rice beer, are strictly forbidden on this very occasion.