MANIPUR'S LARGEST TRIBE THE THADOU CELEBRATES ITS BIGGEST CULTURAL FESTIVAL HUN

The Thadou tribe, the largest tribe in the state of Manipur celebrated its biggest cultural festival called Hun at Kangpokpi District Headquarters on April 7 momentously in the presence of the various elected Manipur Legislative Assembly members, bureaucrats, civil society organizations, etc.

- Kaybie Chongloi

Meaning of Hun

According to the Thadous, Hun,. Etymologically signifies time and season. The 'time' here significantly encompasses something of the entire cosmology-from earth to heaven, death to life, and all the affairs of man and his spirituality. Hun is an archaic but formal form of time in the above sense of the language.

Hun, celebrated for seven days is more than a cultural festival. It is a civilizing act of the Thadous.

Why is Hun Important For The Thadou Tribe?

Hun, is the most important festival of all festivals of the Thadou people for the following reasons:

Firstly, it is the celebration of time, i.e. the arrival of New Year. A numbers of rites and rituals relating to new things are performed during ‘Hun’. The germination and sprouting of seeds sown in the fields that bring forth new lease of life and hope is given utmost importance in the rituals. The dead of the seeds symbolizing the ‘old’ is also very significant.

Secondly, it is an annual religious affair for a family wherein the Thadous acknowledge the existence of all powerful God in whom they repose their complete faith. The head of the family renew his faith and worship his God in the symbolical ‘Doibom’. He does this on behalf of his entire family for their health, prosperity and well being throughout the year. Another importance of Hun lies in the fact that the fate of the family is reckoned during this occasion. As to whether the family shall prosper, healthy or whether any misfortune will befall them are tested on this occasion.