Chomangkan-Interpreting Karbi Festival of Life and Death

Name of Author : Amphu Terangpi

Abstract: Chomangkan is a funeral festival performed by the Karbi tribe. Chomangkan is not only about death but also of rebirth and regeneration. It also reflects the verbal and non-verbal art forms, which are important in the understanding of Karbi epistemology. Over the years, Chomangkan has drawn the attention of some scholars and writers who had presented it from etic perspectives, often limited to superficial and culturally inappropriate understanding. Chomangkan is a complex and multi-layered cultural and social event which cannot be simplified as a chaotic, colourful and extravagant festival, as it takes months, and sometime years to prepare, involving a huge network of people from the clan, descent groups, and villagers which drain the financial resources of the host. This paper seeks to briefly discuss Chomangkan from the emic perspective, as a critical insight into Karbi worldview. Chomangkan is a series of dramatized performances which ridicule death through erotic songs, dances and public celebration of the ancient urge of recreation.

Keywords : Life and Death, Regeneration, Epistemology and Rebirth

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