Tai Ahoms ritual Um-pha and Ai-me-nang Dance.

The meaning of the term “Um” means to worship and the term ‘Pha’ stands for god. Thus the ritual of Um-pha means worshiping god or ‘Phi’. As the Tai ahom people believe, the history of the Um-pha puja begins in the realm of the first ancestor of Tai’s- Khun-Lung & Khun-Lai. The grand son of god Lang-Don started this ritual in Mung-Re-Mung-Rum following the order of his grand father. As the Ahom belief, a person is not reborn after death. The person then becomes a DAM then PHI (God) and goes to the assigned place in one of the several heavens and lives with relatives. Thus it has been believed that worshiping in the name of those DAM & PHI compels them to come to the earth to bless there sons, daughters, grand children and others. The ritual of Um-pha has been presented in three raised bamboo platform (Phun or Mehenga) made of bamboo is constructed in the name of deity, namely Lang-Kuri, Phi-Me-Thao and Lai-Lung-Kham or Po-Phi-Su. In the platforms three piece of battle nut wrapped up with chinkara flower, three packets of rice beer and rice are offered. After arranging all offerings in the right places the priest will purify the devotees by sprinkling water mixed with chinkara flower and explains the importance of each and every god and goddess in Ahom language and then call upon them to come. This is calling Aotang in Ahom. The main priest of Um-pha (locally known as Deories), starts behaving abnormally and he starts dancing in the rhythm of Kong-Cheng (Drum) and traditional song which traditionally known as Ai-me-nang. Then the Deori starts predict for the coming year in his unconscious state of mind. During the early stage of Ahom rule this puja had been performed in Se-Rai-Doi ‘Deo shal’ but in passing of time this puja has been organized in Amlakhi Deo Shal of Lakua Ranga gara and in bokota’s bor deo shal of Sivasagar district.