Khuado & Zomi ~ Pu Zokhai

Khuado & Zomi ~ Pu Zokhai

Zomi leh Zongeina-pen 1800 mapek-a anungta khinsa ahihman-in agui suut suk nawnkei-ni. Tulaai Zomi ahihlam hong kiphawk pianpian sanggam mipil uliante keekkeek mah-in Zongeina kician-in kann manlo ahitam Khuado Banner gelhzia naakpi-in khasiat-huai theizeel ahihziak-in themcik hong gelh nuam-ing.

Guuicing-in gelh lehang, ka’ laisimte-in hong phunsan theizeel ahihman-in tomno-in gensuk ziau-ni. Khuado-pen Khuado hi-a, Kawlte-in mah-sah-lah hunsung hong zawhcipna ziak-in “Khuado Pawi” ci-in “Pawi” kammal aki guang tantanbek hi-a, KHUADO hiziau-hi. “Pawi” cih kammal-pen Zomi kampau-ah khiatna anuai-abang ahihi:

• Pawi – (aw-euto) Tualgaal hun laai-in Zogam khanglam siiksan-a Zomite hongdo theizeel minamte.
• Pawi – (awlaai) Helzaau, tokzaau, helkhawm, lpd: an lak-ah meh pawi cbt..
• Pawi – (awlaai) Lolaai ahihkeileh huan sung-ah khaici tuh ahihkeileh vawh.

Tua ahihman-in Zopau a-it vilvelte’ ading-in “Khuado Pawi” cih dengdang nangawn thuakkhop hikhin kimlaai —–

Chin Yoya Kauh-Htit Saa-Pweydaw cihkhawng, Chin Yoya Pwey cihpeuh hong-om liakluak mawkpen zumhuai mahmah lel-a, minam zuakthaangna namkhat ahihi. Khuado-pen Kawlte-in “Pwey” acih mawkmawkte ciang hisaam lo-a, Pupate-in biakna, khuahun, Pasian-tawh kizom-a aneih lianpen Cialpi thupipenpen ahihi. Kua mah-in neilo-a, Zomi bek-in aneih ahihlam, Zomite’ tumdangna (uniqueness) Khat ahihi. Namdangte-in hong uap-a hong siimleh muakding I’ mawhpuak ahihi, ahizong-in namdang min-tawh akibawl thei-namte hi ngiat lo-hi.

Namdang kammal-tawh gawm-zong lawp kankanding hilo-hi: a- namdangte mahmah-inzong: Christmas Festival, Pass-Over Festival, Pentecost Festival etc. ci-in “(Festival, Pwey cihbangte omlo) gelh liapluap selo uhhi. Khuado Festival cih akuulloh mahbang-in Khuado Pwey cihzong kisam lo-a, Khuado Pawi/Kut cihte akisam kilkello ahihi. KHUADO-pen KHUADO-tawh akicing sitset ahihi. Khuado abawl naailote Khuado zatnuam!

(Namdang’ kiang-a pulaakna anuai-ah English-tawh)

KHUADO

Khuado is the most significant festival of Zomi people, people of northern Chin State, Myanmar and eastern Manipur State, India, who called themselves Zomi. The word “Khua” has many meanings: Weather, Season, Town, Unseen God or gods etc. The word “Do” has two significant meanings: Fight against., and Welcome. The word “Khuado” itself has a very sacred meaning: Welcoming the oncoming weather and gods of weather, and fighting old gods – gods believed to be the causes of bad events of the past.

Khuado is celebrated in October after all villagers’ harvest. Due to this period, some people think it is Harvest Festival but it is not the case, it is much more than harvest festival, in fact, it is the most important sacred festival of Zomi people. Before the Christian Conversion, Zomi people called their religion “Tual Biakna”. The word “Tual” means “within a society or community” and “God or gods of the universe”. “Biakna” means “Worship or Worshipping or Religion”. The most high priest of the town or village conducts this sacred service – Tual Biakna, once a year which is held in Khuado.

On Khuado Eve, people prepare for feast – all old corn must be grinded for ale, and new corn must be cooked for the feast and ready for the following day. In the evening, people who want to celebrate “Victory Over Bee” arrange for “Bringing Beehives Home” with a big crowd, and drink ale – local beer all night with various kinds of songs of victory. Everyone wakes at the dawn and the Khuado begins. The high priest and priesthood attendants come together at the Altar that was built at the middle of the village with three stone-pillars. Here, sacred offerings are made, burning some animal sacrifice, and prophesying what will happen to the society in the future. Then the whole village celebrates Khuado with a great feast with singing and dancing.

There was a huge change in celebrating Khuado after the Christian Conversion (1910 – 1950s). As the Zomi fell under the dictatorship of Burmese authority since 1962, Khuado is only celebrated in villages and hamlets but not in the towns. Nowadays, Khuado is celebrated with a great feast, sports, singing and dancing. Songs of victory are sung and dances of victory are danced just as the ancient Zomi people did.

For instance, “Sawngsiik La leh Laam” (the song and dance of Sawngsiik) is sung and danced in Khuado because the song was composed on victory over the infamous enemy. The song means- “I am the first famous hero who kills the infamous enemy – that I dreamt for long time ago”.

Khuado is not merely a Harvest Festival nor Zomi New Year nor Half-Year but a sacred festival, a religious festival and a festival of Zomi identity that makes Zomi unique.

Let us celebrate Khuado with a great peace and joy! T. Zokhai