Lawm-Siel-Kai

Lawm-Siel- Kai is one of the festivals which are celebrated among the Kuki tribes on the completion of the seasonal work. This includes a yearly celebration among all the members of the tribes who share a jar of Zu with all their family members in the evening. Similarly a jar of Zu is offered to the chief in order to seek permission for such a festival. As the jar of Zu rotates and reaches the senior most member of the Lawm he is supposed to take it to the house of the chief along with the senior boy and senior girl of the lawm which shall be the formal way of seeking the permission of the chief to organize such a festival. The chief on return shall verify the condition of village economy which and then grant the permission in accordance with the council of ministers.

Lawm-Siel- Kai is one of the most celebrated festivals of the tribe which includes the Chief of the tribe, the priest or Thiempu, the Lawm-Upa, and all the members of the Lawm. Separately each senior member of the community is offered a jar of Zu and invited for participating in the festival. Within the procedure the Lawm members begin with calculating the amount which is collected. It is a strange festival in which young boys are involved in collecting rats as the calculation states that each girl is equal to five rats. These are then submitted to the head of the tribe who makes a bundle of it divided into equal numbers. The rats can further be replaced with chunks of flesh or some other commodity depending on the economic condition of the participants. The festival usually takes place in the month of November. In this festival the Lawm leaders confidently pick up the couple of boys and girls exhibits his surprise. The entire meeting takes place in the house of the Chief who formally declares the official engagement of the boy and the girl. After this the occasion takes place which is celebrated with slaughtering of a Mithun while drinks and dances continue in its own way. The tribes of Kuki in Manipur have long elaborate folklore describing each of the festivals of Kuki tribe which form an integral part of the tribal society of Manipur.

Thus the festival of Lawm-Siel- Kai which is primarily celebrated on the completion of one successful season also provides a platform to those who decide to declare their formal relationship. This is one occasion that includes the participation of all the members of the community.