Yakthung Festivals
Hitaram Tilling
Yakthung Festivals
Festivals are auspicious occasions,
celebrations, and joyous events observed collectively based on religion,
culture, and tradition. In the Limbu community, various traditional rituals are
performed, and people gather on these occasions to enjoy together. Each Limbu
family usually performs these rituals at their own homes. The main Limbu
rituals include Chasok, Yakwa, Tansing, Nahen, Manggena, Akwama, Tungdunge,
Manghup, etc. In recent times, Chasok has begun to be
celebrated as a shared and main festival. Additionally, Keeping in mind the agricultural seasons, They
celebrate Yakwa, Kakphewa (Maghe Sankranti), and Sisekpa (Saune Sankranti) as
festivals occasionally.
Yakwa Tangnam
Yakwa is the worship of nature performed to
Tagera Ningwaphuma before sowing crop seeds, with prayers for good harvests,
protection from natural disasters, and timely rainfall. This ritual is conducted
by each Limbu household at a time convenient for them before sowing crops.
Yakwa worship is usually completed within the month of Falgun.
On the day Yakwa
worship is performed, no one in that community is allowed to dig, plow, or do
any farming work. After the collective Yakwa is completed, each
each household is open to perform the individual Yakwa privately.. Individual Yakwa
is mandatory for all Yakthungs. Limbu organizations celebrate the Yakwa Tangnam
on the full moon day of Vaisakh and on the 15th of Falgun.
Chasok Tangnam
In the Yakthung community, once the crops are harvested, a portion is first
offered to the household deity before being consumed by people.. The ritual or
worship to seek permission from ancestors and nature to consume the new crops
is called Chasok. In the Chasok worship, after completing the worship of
Misek and Kuikudap (Tambhungna, Taksangba, Siringma, Tenchama,
Saba, Misek), the household Himsamangs (Kappoba Samang, Kashihangma,
Yumasamang, Thebasamang, Thungdangba) must be worshipped.
Hukwa ( ritual aide) is distributed among
neighbors. According to the Mundhum of the Yakthung
community, during the early stages of crop development or cultivation, one of
the first humans, Sikera Ekthuknam, sowed parama (barnyard millet) and piyama
(Kagun) in the fields. After these crops—rice, millet, and Kagun—ripened, they
ate them without offering them to Tagera Ningwafumang Yuma Mang, which, caused
misfortune (goiter) to occur.
According to another myth, Bhangera
(Makcherapu) brought the rice seed (Geda), and Sodhunggen Lepmuhang’s
son Pajaiba and his wife Luplina Badangnama started farming, and
it is mentioned that only by offering to them could the crops be eaten.
Similarly, another myth mentions Mujingna
Kheyangna, after becoming pregnant, followed the advice of Tagera
Ningwabhumang Yumamang and brought Piyama (millet) and Hakchama seeds for cultivation. Because the
first fruit of the crop was consumed without offering to Tagera
Ningwabhumang Yumamang, caused misfortune and the emergence of pests, which led to the
beginning of Chasok ritual as stated in the Mundhum.
The Yakthung community
has developed Chasok as a festival and started celebrating it with great
joy and enthusiasm both
within the country and abroad.. Limbu organizations celebrate Chasok Tangnam
grandly on the occasions of Mangsir Purnima, Kartik Purnima, and Mangsir 1.
Kakphewa Tangnam
Since this festival is
celebrated when Kak (chaanp or Magnolia champaca) blooms in the month of Magh, it is
called Kakphewa Tangnam.
The Limbu New Year, Kusang Tangbe, also begins with the blooming
of the Chaanp/Magnolia champaca flowers. The changing of the year itself is a
reason for celebration. To wish for a year full of happiness, peace, and joy,
people wake up early, bathe, and eat various plant-based dishes, including
Tambungkhe (wild yams) and other yam dishes. This Tangnam is celebrated by all
Limbus on the 1st of Magh..
Sisekpa Tangnam
The Limbu celebrate Sisekpa Tangnam,
believing that the period of scarcity has ended and the time of plenty has
arrived. With the onset of the month of Saun (monsoon), crops also begin to
ripen. As the crops ripen, it is felt that the scarcity period is over. A rope made of babiyo (broom grass
or Eulaliopsis binata) fiber is twisted into a wick, and a ripening
Tulphool (crops, flowers, fruits, vegetables, etc.) are hung above the main
door.
According to Yakthung mythology, once the
kingdom of Manghang was like heaven itself, with excellent food, clothing, and
living conditions. Unfortunately, a
severe famine occurred one year. There was no rain. The famine caused all the
people to start dying of hunger. They served Tagera Ningwabhu Mang to
ask for rain. However, no rain came. The famine worsened. All the food was
finished. King
Manghang himself also served Tagera Ningwaphu Mang. That very night, Tagera
Ningwaphu Yuma Mang appeared to him in a dream, instructing him to worship
nature. Following the vision, they performed the worship. Rain fell, crops
grew, and the people were saved from famine. From this event onward, the
Sisekpa Tangnam began to be celebrated.
