Me-dam-me-phi

We often find people worshipping their ancestors. It’s a common practice that is followed by most traditional societies all around the world. And today we are going to discuss one such tradition that has been followed by the Ahoms for more than 400 years in Assam  – called Me-dam-me-phi.

People celebrating me-dam-me-phi; Image source: the Sentinel Assam

For the Ahoms, who arrived around 1228 AD in the Brahmaputra valley, me-dam-me-phi has been one of their most important festivities. It is a manifestation of the Ahoms' ancestral worship, which they share with other Tai communities who mainly belong to mainland Southeast Asia.

In me-dam-me-phi ‘me' denotes offerings, 'Dam' denotes ancestors, and 'Phi' denotes Gods. After death, the dead linger as ancestors for a short period before ascending to heaven and merging with the Supreme Being. After uniting, they always look after their family and help them in times of need.

According to the Ahom legends, when Lengdan, the God of heaven, sent two of his grandsons, Khunlung and Khunlai, to earth through the golden stairs, Gasingpha, the God of knowledge, advised them to perform ‘Umpha’, ‘Phuralong’, ‘Me dam Me Phi’, and ‘Rikhwan’ in different months of the year and on different occasions. Me-dam-me phi was celebrated to remember and honour the contributions made by our ancestors to the society.

It is said that Chaolung Sukapha, the first ruler of Tai Ahoms, performed ‘me-dam-me-phi’ and sought the blessings of his ancestors in his new capital Charaideo. After his death, his son Sutepha continued the tradition. There are historical references of Ahoms from Sukapha celebrating Me-Dam-Me-Phi every year.

After defeating the Kacharis on the banks of the river Dhansiri in 1563, king Suhungmung captured the entire Dhansiri valley as well as the northern portion of the Kolong river, according to the Ahom Buranji translated by G.C. Boruah. In order to honour this triumph, King Suhungmung held both the Me-Dam-Me-Phi and the Rikhwan festivals in his capital, wishing the longevity of himself and his subjects.

Another chronicle writes about how after recognizing the threat posed by the Koches, King Sukhampha alias Khura Raja established an alliance with the Koch king, and after a successful alliance, the king performed Me Dam Me Phi in his capital. There are many similar instances where the Ahom monarchs performed Me Dam Me Phi in order to ward off impending peril, commemorate victories, and desire longevity in life.

During the festival, mainly three Gods are worshipped: Grihadam, Dam Changphi, and Me-Dam-Me-Phi, the god of heaven. Ahom priests Deodhai and Bailung conduct the ceremony by chanting Tai mantras and following the rituals outlined in manuscripts such as Phralung and Banfi, among others.

In individual families, the ritual is kept small and takes place in the kitchen. They usually build a pillar called 'Damkhuta' on one side of the kitchen, where they worship the dead with various offerings such as homemade wine, egg with handoh (a type of rice powder), and various vegetarian cuisines.

One of the most important Ahom customs is that the deceased body is stored in a box and buried rather than being burned. The burial bound is known as ‘maidam’.

In contemporary times, me-dam-me-phi is celebrated all over Assam on the 31st of January every year. People gather in traditional attire to pray to their ancestors. Different Assamese cuisines are also served, and they take part in the festival by staging theatre, dance, and music performances.

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.

Food offerings during me-dam-me-phi; Image source: Nezine