Me-Dam-Me-Phi

Me dam me phi (Ahom:π‘œ‰π‘œ¦π‘œ§ π‘œ“π‘œͺ π‘œ‰π‘œ¦π‘œ§ π‘œ‡π‘œ£) is a socio-traditional festival celebrated by the Tai-Ahom and people of Assam.

[8][9] The rituals of the observance of Me Dam Me Phi are written in the book Khyek-lai or Lit Lai Me-Dam-Me-Phi in Tai Ahom language.

[12] From the Ahom Chronicle Pyen kaka it can be known that when Lengdon, the king of Mong Phi (The heavenly kingdom; Tian), sent two of his grandsons Khunlung and Khunlai to Mong Ri, present Xishuangbanna, China at that moment Ye-Cheng-Pha the ancestor literacist of knowledge advised them to perform Umpha, Phuralong, Mae Dam Mae Phi and Rik-khwan worships in different months of a year on different occasions to pay respect to the Phi-Dam (Ancestral Spirit) and Khwan elements in the month of Duen-Ha.

So every Ahom family in order to worship the dead establish a pillar on the opposite side of the kitchen (Barghar) which is called β€˜Damkhuta’ where they worship the dead with various offerings like homemade wine, egg with handoh(a kind of rice powder) with various items of vegetarian dishes.

So every Ahom family in order to worship the dead establish a pillar on the opposite side of the kitchen (Barghar) which is called β€˜Damkhuta’ where they worship the dead with various offerings like homemade wine, mah-prasad, rice with various items of meat and fish.

The Ahom kings performed this worship after victory in wars and to ward off any imminent danger of the State.

From the Ahom chronicles it can be known that when Lengdan, the God of heaven, sent two of his grandsons Khunlung and Khunlai to earth by a golden chain at that moment Gasingpha, the God of knowledge advised them to perform Umpha, Phuralong, Medam Me Phi and Rikhwan worships in different months of a year on different occasions.

God Dam Chao Phi is associated with the belief of some 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 Tai mantras and following the codes given in the Manuscripts like Phralung and Banfi, etc.