Name giving ceremony in Rai culture

 

Naming ceremony & Pork Making Culture in Rai:

The Rai community has a rich culture and their community togetherness is unbelievable. They revered each other and shared everything like a family. Like in this video, generally, if any family wants to cut their own pigs, buffalo, beef, wild animals, etc., they invite their neighbouring households to share meat within the community. In the same manner, they prepare pigs in their own traditional pattern. After finishing their work, they fry pork meat (Chhokmasa/Bhutuwa) then they share pork meat (Chokmasa) with Umbak (homemade millet wine). Here, invited family members will receive a meat portion according to their need and the number of family members. If meat is not enough to meet their demand, they share according to their family members. Rai people are very connected to nature and their ancestors. Afterwards, they use banana leaves and other tree leaves as a plate and bowl. Thereafter, they separate from there, informing the house owner, "Hasinchine Molo," or "bye."

Name giving ceremony in Rai culture:

While we know someone is being a mother, then in the mother's name, we have to cook/incubate Umbank. Likewise, after the postnatal naming ceremony, we have to use this Umbak. If you give birth to a baby boy, then a naming ceremony will be conducted in 6 days. Respectively, I have a baby girl in 5 days. In this special ceremony, the priest or head will be senior to the kinship of women, especially. Most often, within Rai culture, women will conduct this naming ceremony. The head woman briefs all the processes and equipment needed to prosecute the ceremony. Simultaneously, we have to prepare a plough, Dhanuskada (Bow Arrow), Umbak, Hengma, cradle, knife, rooster, thread, etc. for boys, subsequently, a handloom comb, Charkha, hen, cradle, thread, Combi (a knife), etc. for girls. Thereafter, the headwoman enchants the incantation to protect the child and mother from the devil and evil spirits.

Some steps to perform incantation;

i.                    Have to kill a cock with enchanting  "Mamang hulla hangchhakokda saarima mamandane"

ii.                  Before entering inside the house, have to perform a spell with the Umbak spilling onto the hot pot in the main door while mother and child enter

iii.                Have to bind thread made into rings around the waist, hands and legs

iv.                 Have to keep that equipment in respective areas

v.                   Combi and Karda should be kept in the cradle

vi.                 Cradle will be a different pattern

As I mentioned above in the steps, every step has its own meaning behind doing this process. I have offered a cock for you to not trouble the mother and child. The reason behind the process no. II is that the head or senior woman should pour Chhanuwa into the hot pot with the masala and oil because we have to offer those women who have lost their lives during pregnancy. We say don't bother us any longer; we've given you your portion.

The reason behind the binding thread around the waist and hands is that you came with a human before you were with God. And another reason is to measure the growth of a baby. Likewise, the pattern of the cradle will be Raja, Ghar, Indra and Indra, Raja, Gharjam. That means Ghar and Indra for son, and subsequently, Raja and Ghar for daughter. In the same way, a knife has been our crucial weapon since the origin of mankind. We have a strong belief that if we have a sword, then the devil is afraid to come and attack. So, we have to keep a knife and combi (Khurpa) in the cradle. If it's a girl, then a combi and a boy's knife, respectively. The cradle will be woven by a special Malingo or Sigane.

In Rai culture, there are several rituals within the life span. Among them, a naming ceremony is the first step of life. Continuously, I will update other rituals too. So don’t forget to subscribe to this blog. The second ritual is the rice feeding ceremony, which is conducted within six months of the birth date.