Celebrated In: India
Celebrated By: Ahom (Hindu)
Me-dam-me-phi is celebrated by the Ahom people on 31st January every year in memory of the departed. It is the manifestation of the concept of ancestor worship that the Ahoms share with other peoples originating from the Tai-Shan stock. It is a festival to show respect to the departed ancestors and remember their contribution to society. Me Dam MePhi is one of the important festivals observed by the Ahoms from very ancient times. The word Me means offerings. Dam means ancestors and Phi means gods. So the word Me-Dam-Me-Phi means oblations offered to the dead and sacrifices to gods. The Ahoms have their own tenets and faith. From the Ahom chronicles it can be known that when Lengdon, the God of heaven, sent two of his grandsons Khunlung and Khunlai to earth by a golden chain at that moment Gasingpha, the God of knowledge advised them to perform Umpha, Phuralong, Me-Dam-Me-Phi and Rikhan worships in different months of a year on different occasions. Since that day till now Me Dam Me Phi has been observed by all the Ahoms.
