Me-Dam-Me-Phi: Representing the essence of Ahom Culture

Me-Dam-Me-Phi is a communal festival for ancestor worship in Ahom Religion. It is the most important ancestor worship festival for Ahom people. It is celebrated every year on 31st January in memory of the departed souls. 

The Ahom religion is an ethnic religion of Ahom People in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Ahom people are the descendants of Tai people who came to Assam in the 13th century following the Tai Prince Sukaphaa and admixed with locals.

Me-Dam-Me-Phi is celebrated by Ahom People every year on 31st January to worship their ancestors. It is the manifestation of the idea of ancestor worship that the Ahoms share with other people originated from Tai People. Me-Dam-Me-Phi is a festival to show respect to the ancestors and keep their memories alive and remember their contribution to the community.
Me-Dam-Me-Phi is an ancient festival and one of the most important festivals of Ahoms. Each word of the name "Me-Dam-Me-Phi" has its own meaning 'Me' means Offerings. 'Dam' means Ancestors. And 'Phi' means Gods. So the literal translation of Me-Dam-Me-Phi would be offerings to ancestors, offerings to gods. Mainly it means oblations offered to the Ancestors spirits.

Me-Dam-Me-Phi reflects the customs and culture of the Tai-Ahom people, but that's not all that it does. It increases unity in the community. It encourages brotherhood and love for culture. The new generation gets to know their culture and about their ancestors deeply thorough this festival which encourages mutual understanding between the two generations.
The word ‘Me Dam Me Phi’ means oblations offered to the dead and sacrifices to gods. This festival is celebrated individually by families and also publicly by a King or the leader of the Community, or by general people.

In present times this event is observed and celebrated by people so much that it is no longer just an ancestor's worship; it is now regarded as a festival. A festival where the ancestors are remembered for their contribution to society by the entire community.
Ahoms believe that after the death of a person they remain as a 'Dam' which means ancestors for only a few days, and soon they become 'Phi' which means gods. They also believe after the demise of a person their soul unites with the supreme soul and they possess the quality of divine and bless their families forever.

To worship their ancestors, every Ahom family keeps a Pillar in the opposite direction of the kitchen, which represents their ancestors. This pillar is called "Damkhuta" which means the Pillar of Ancestor. Near the "Damkhuta" they worship their ancestors by offering homemade wine, rice with multiple items, fish, meats, and so on.

Ahom kings after coming back from wars used to perform the worship to keep the state safe from imminent threats, as Ahom people believe that ancestors now united with the supreme soul with their divinity, will always protect and bless their families and keep them safe from any kind dangers.
When Me-Dam-Me-Phi is observed publicly, the worship is offered in the name of three gods and they are Me-Dam-Me-Phi, Dam Changphi and Grihadam.
The god Dam Changphi is believed as the ancestor from the fourteenth generation, and Grihadam is also believed as the ancestor up to the fourth generation of a family.

The worship is done by Ahom Priests Deodhai and Bailung following the manuscripts such as Phralung and Banfi and chanting Tai Mantras.  

On the day of the worship the worship is offered to Chaufi and Dam Chaufi only, as they are believed to be the god from Heaven, where as Dam Changphi and Grihadam are regarded as earthly gods as they are human ancestors who's souls are united with the supreme soul after their death. 
There are several instances of performing this worship by the Ahom Kings, usually after they come back from some war to ensure the safety of the state. Ahom Buranjis are a class of historical manuscripts initially written in Ahom Language later on in Assamese Language. The first Buranji was written by Ahom King Sukaphaa, who established the Ahom Kingdom in the 13th century.

In Ahom Buranji translated by G.C. Baruah, it is written that Ahom King Suhunhmung after defeating Kacharis in 1563, he organized Me-Dam-Me-Phi to worship ancestors and gods to celebrate his victory and ensure the safety of his state. King Sukhamphaa performed the ceremony after aligning with Koch King.

King Pratap Singh performed the ceremony three times, first two times after defeating Mughals in 1606 A.D. and in 1615 A.D. and once more after being defeated by Mughals.
King Sunyeophaa performed the ceremony after the cremation of his brother Suklingphaa, as suggested by the royal astrologers.

Ahom Kings performed Me-Dam-Me-Phi on several occasions to avoid any kind of imminent danger, to celebrate their victory, and for blessings from gods and ancestors.

Me-Dam-Me-Phi, is an important festival for Ahom people which showcases the Ahom culture and customs beautifully. An ancient festival which is still being followed, filled with historical details and connections. It’s history makes it even more beautiful.

Disclaimer: This article is based on information gathered from various sources available on Internet. Mostly from Wikipedia. If there is anything written wrong, feel free to comment below. It will be corrected as soon as possible. Thank You.

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