Chamurei
The song tells the story of an orchid “Chamurei”, which is thought to be the spirit of an abandoned girl raised by a non-mother
The song tells the story of an orchid “Chamurei”, which is thought to be the spirit of an abandoned girl raised by a non-mother
The singer uses the semi circular portion of the female ear to illustrate the shape of the flower in the song and describes the uses of the full blossoming flower to be decorated on the woman's hair.
Kwatha Village, which is inhabited by Meitei Community with a total population of about 404 people, is located under the Moreh sub division of the Tengnoupal district on the Indo-Myanmar border, 110km away from Imphal city, Manipur.
Sound artist Mocha Kangjam spent six days in Kwatha Village recording, interacting and documenting stories of the ancient tradition and folk songs from the older generation. There were only a few of them who still sing folk tunes. 77 year old Oja Takhellambam Ibobi is one of these gems. This is an excerpt from the field recordings by Mocha Kangjam of Oja Takhellambam Ibobi which tells the beauty of the Chamurei flower that blooms in the village around late March and early April.
Singer: Takhellambam Ibobi, aged about 77 years
