Naga folktale, songs and poems.

 Chang Naga Folktales.

1. Momola Flood.

Like every other community has a story to hold on, the ancestors of our Chang Naga Tribe also beliefs on one significant incident which according to them had caused a flood.

     The flood is known as 'MOMOLA FLOOD'. The Changsang history holds to this flood dispensation that once a mother named Sungmo took her daughter Thontimola for fishing with a winnower like fishing net made of cane called JESOK. While going through fishing in the river, the mother couldn't get much fish. So with a want to catch enough fish, she cried saying "Come to my JESOK(net) the biggest of fishes, I will give my daughter Momola to you." After saying that she then laid down her net and started trying to fish again. On this attempt, she got many fishes. However, as she was not willing to leave her only daughter but also being mindful of what she had said earlier started their journey back home.

So the river began to raise calling out the name of her daughter as Mo...Mo.... Then the rain poured heavily and as the flood gets more hugely rising to the top of the hills and trees, she could no longer run with her daughter away. People started crumbling knowing the promise that the mother made and so scolded her saying, "Give away what you have promised". On this side, she said " Daughter, don't feel bad on meet, rather let your anger be upon heaven and the earth". Then, she pushed her daughter into the river as she had already promised, only after which the river began to subside with a resounding voice Mo... Mo...... again. 

It was said that when this Momola Flood came, only a place named "NGAKUSON MOUNTAIN" couldn't be flooded. And so all the animals, birds and the creeping creatures gathered on this particular mountain.

After the water subsided the mother with deep sorrow and grief went back to the river in search of her daughter, weeping and saying " Where could I get my daughter back?" She deeply mourned for her daughter and continued to search her from river to river. While going in search of her daughter in the way she found Momola sleeping between two big fishes in one of the big river. However, being unable to get her back weeping and mourning again.

2. The story of Shambili.

Once upon a time, there was a man who couldn't find no girl who could marry him. So he planted a garden of flowers hoping that some girl tempted by their beauty, would agree to be his wife in order that she might always wear them in her ears. He soon noticed that someone came every night and picked flowers from his garden, but he never saw any of the girls wearing them in their ears. To give the mystery, he kept watch in the garden one night. When all was quiet a woman og wonderful beauty came and began to pluck the flowers, singing very sweetly to herself as she did so. He ran and caught her and held her tight inspite of her struggles. She said that he must let her go as she was of the race of the sky folk and her name was Shambili but he would not and they became husband and wife. All was happiness till one day Shambili said that she must go to her own folk, for it was a time of their spring festival. So he let her go and the day after she had gone a lame man who lived in the next house died. On the day when she was to return, her husband looked out early and saw her coming in the far distance carrying a basket. To his horror in the basket, he saw the deformed leg of the lame man. But when she got near he looked again and the human leg had turned into a mithun leg. She cooked it but her husband could not eat any of it so she ate it all by herself. Next morning the door of their house remained shut and one of the villager came to see what had happened. He peeped in and saw Shambili sitting on the chest of her husband and eating his vitals. He gave the alarm and the villagers surrounded the house. But just as they were going to close in on it, there was a clap of thunder and a dense cloud descended on the house. When it lifted, Shambili was not there. She had been taken back to the sky.

This is how the Changs know that men are the mithun of the sky folk, and when a man dies on earth, it means that a mithun had been sacrificed in the sky. So too when men sacrifice mithun on earth, one of the sky folk dies.

Chang Naga Folksongs.

1. Warrior's battle folk song.

Jaenabou yaada a hae,

Jaeyangbou yaada a hae.

Jenabou se yaala se yaala 

Thong ji su.

Jaejangbou se yaala se yaala

Thong ji su.

Meaning: To give a bitter taste of wrath to a friend(in a battle).

2. Post harvest folk song.

Sanglelongle sangle sola che sola

Chema aa lae

Che che la chela aa lae.

Sangle longle sangle solaa chesola

Chema aa lae

Che che la chela aa lae.

Meaning: The calling of a man for a celebration with the flesh like the calling of birds by placing a worm (adyang), in another words "a trap for birds".

Naga folk poem.

1. A Mother's Lament.

Alas! Helpless was I 

None my child to mind 

I toiled upon the earth

Alas! My child

Under an oil seed bush

To sleep, I left her

As I toiled upon the earth.

 

Upon her, came an eagle 

Away with her.

Atop a gaint three

With every peck

My child, she cried

Oh mother! Mother of mine.

In pain I am, save me.

Oh child! Beloved child of mine

To save you, 

With shouts aloud

A wrestle I'd try, 

Where it a creature of the sky

I am, but helpless.

Oh child! Beloved child of mine,

Hold no grudge, my dear

In peace may you leave

In peace may you leave.

Source: Xukishe Katty, Keltomi.

2. Has the yellow paddy yellowed?

Young men upon our land

There was not a day,

When my hand they didn't ask

My father and my mother both,

A better price to take

Upon other's lands they ventured.

Alas! On seasons of spring,

He showered me with praises

Alas! On seasons of spring,

He treated me with harnessed.

With heart forlorn

My pack I tied 

Down I went

Beside the river bank.

High and low,

I cast my glance.

My maiden village lands,

Their paddy, Has it yellowed?

Source: Mr. Xukiye, Lazakito.