KUM K'THI
(KCHO NEW YEAR CELEBRATION)
By Kee Ghing Mang

Meaning First, it will be a good idea to examine the word Kum k'thi itself for the meaning it signifies. Kum is year; K'thi comes from Thi ci (to be clear, clean as of liquid, sky and so on). K'Thi, derived from Thi, functions as a verb, meaning 'to purify, bless, clean and so on’. Kum K'thi literally means 'year benediction or blessing the year'. Therefore, it may convey the general meaning of: performing purification rites of the New Year or blessing the community for the new year. In normal conversation, the word K'thi alone is often heard in stead of Kum k'thi.

Social significance Doubtless, this celebration was so vital in Kcho society. It is not a mere social gathering for food and drink. It reflects the underlying social customs, history, tribal unity, belief system and social norms of Kcho. It is a time to reassemble the whole tribe and restrengthen the unity; it is a time to dedicate the community to the Supreme Being and ask for happiness, good health, enough supply of food, wealth, and protection. Aditionally, this is a great educational moment for the public to hear from the elders the Kcho history, the chronicles of their ancesters, the migration routes, wars they waged and their achievements, usually in the form of ritual motet and folk songs.

Preparation

Ample time is alloted for thorough preparation of the event. Weeks or months ahead, every family gives a compulsory contribution of grain(rice, millet, or corn), beans, yeast for Zu(beer) and other food supply for the occasion. Zu for ritual purposes, as opposed to the common drink, is specially brewed by K'taigü(priest or shaman) and his assistant K'taigüs themselves. K'taigüs are also responsible for setting the date of the great occasion, which will be made known to all neighboring communities. Sturdy fence is put up blocking the roads leading to the village to prevent travellers coming into the village of K'thi. Other clear signs are also set up to mark the no-entry zone where K'thi is in progress. Guests who have already arrived in the village are required to remain until the end of the event.

It is considered a serious offence to be disturbed during this K'hti vigil. Breach of this taboo can cost an intruder compensation or his own life at worst, should misfortune befell on a member of the community or properties of the community in the year. Perhaps, it is believed that deep spiritual things are happening at this time. Therefore, it is not only that the Ng'yo or the soul of both individual and the community is vulnerable to be exposed to other human or spiritual beings, but also the whole community's relationship and communication with the Supreme Being (Kkhaanpughi or Pushihpi) and other spirits can be strained incurring disfavor from them in the form of sickness, damage to the crop, failed ventures and death.

The Celebration

The K'thi celebration takes place for several days. Each day is filled by a ceremony or commnunal performance. The activities of the event are supervised by a group of K'taigüs, which is composed of Kphyok Ktaigü (the chief priest), and several other assistant K'taigüs of varied rankings. A number of rigid observations are imposed on the whole community during the celebration.

(I must admit here my inability to give a detailed account of individual rituals performed each day during this event, for I have never experienced it once myself. The Arrival of Buddhism and Christianity into the land has gradually removed many traditional practices, be it religious or cultural, from the scene of Kcho life. But, certainly there are people who can recall almost exact details, and some villages have been still celebrating it, though not following every details, until a few year back. Therefore, there is hope that diligent study can still uncover most of them.

Major Themes:

To our advantage, the themes of this eventful celebration are mentioned in the the only Kcho text book. It offers the core framework of the celebration.
Major themes of Kum-K'hti include:
1- Patha päng m’them
Lihta tuk ba, Kum K'thi ung.
(Ceremony of weapons as symbol of alliance.)
2- Thana ngsoon om
Htui gam theh thoon, Kum K'thí ung.
(Recounting the ancestral lines and the Migration Routes)
3- Nu k'thu pa-kkhui
Kyüi neh k'thí ba, Kum Kthí ung.
(Reaffirmation of spirit of brotherhood)
4- Püm thaang geit-ko,
Kcho kthai ngpha ba, Kum K'htí ung.
(Supplication for good crop and enough food for the community)

(Kcho Ca - Primer p. 60)

1. During this event, every tribe/clan brings weapon(bow and arrow or spear). Tribal elders and priests perform appropriate rites over the collection of weapons, and the array of weapons shows unity and alliance of the tribes. This is so important that failure of a tribe/clan to be represented by weapon at this time is tantamount to cessation from its tribal membership. On the other hand, it is considered to be everyone's national duty to demand compensation for demage inflicted upon a member or his property, and to avenge the dead, either intentional or accidental.

2. The elders will recall, in the form of ritual recitations or tribal lyrics, the names of the ancesters. And give a long account of Migration Routes, which usually begins from Paithali, the Pagan kingom, the escape to Pungtaung Pung-ngya, and the building of Koncuku(pagoda) at Thilin before arriving at the current settlement.

3. The spirit of brotherhood among tribal members is renewed. (The form of ceremony needs further investigation)

4. Usually, this new year celebration takes place after the sowing work is complete. At this time, the seeds sown, people pray for good crops which will yield abandon harvest to last until harvest time of new crops in the following year. During this prayer for the food, K'taigü, holding up a new or carefully cleaned basket to the sky, prays to Kkhaanpùghi(Supreme Being) naming different types of crops to be bestowed. For example,
"Kkhaanpùghi o, püm, thaang na zuk kchaak lo!" (O Kkhaanpughi, drop me (names of crops/grains)!)
Then, he beats up the basket on to a mat or blanket spread for the purpose to find out what kind of grain will fall out from the basket as Kkhaanpùghi's gift for the year. The grain found from basket beating is believed to be indication of the kind of successful crop for the year. Presence of unexpected piece of charcoal, however, is considered as a sign of bad luck and may require additional sacrifices to be offered to divert the ill outcome. A grass seed is a warning that crops will be overgrown with grass which is hard to control.

Hunting expedition is one prominent part of K'thi celebration. Men will go on a group hunting trip, which can extend to a couple of days until big animal is killed. Before the departure, everyone to participate in the hunting is given a short stick as counter, and when they return to the village, the sticks are collected and counted to confirm that no one is left behind in the jungle either because of an accident or wandering astray. The killed animal is cut up in lumps to be shared out to all, from infants to the aged in bed. This may be the reason to hunt for large games. Only a game of considerable size will be enough for rationing out to a crowd. For no one can be left out without the piece of meat so that he will receive due blessings and no misfortune will befall him.

Conclusion

Thus, K'hti or Kcho New Year Celebration is significant for the people in many ways. It may even be the only communal event among many other traditional practices in the sense that equality is met for every community member. Unlike Yu Hlak, where the emphasis lies on the spiritual and social gain for the feast-giver, K'thi demands participation of a community member for equal corporal and spiritual merit. Every Kcho, regardless of social status, age and sex, is equally entitled to food and drink, and most importantly, the blessings of the Great Occasion.

Additionally, it is a great time for younger Kchos to learn the Kcho history, tradition, customs, the art of speech and tribal singing. They can observe the elders performing various rites, and participate in many other activities.

Kum 'Thi (in some people's pronunciation Kum 'Ci ) is the traditional new year celebration of Chin state/nationality (especially in southern part known as KCho area/tribe) and it is also government recognized an official day in Burma.






Author's note:

This is not to be taken as a complete and accurate account of the great Kcho traditional celebration, but rather an initial work to record it. The details of the celebration may slightly vary for different Kcho tribes. The essence of the feast, however, will be the same for all Kcho people. Every Kcho who knows about this great traditional celebration is encouraged to contribute what is not yet mentioned in this account or correct what is wrongfully stated about the feast.