Phouoibi, The Rice Goddess
This song is an excerpt from the story of Phouoibi, the Goddess of Rice in Meitei Mythology
This song is an excerpt from the story of Phouoibi, the Goddess of Rice in Meitei Mythology
This particular episode narrates the story of how the seven celestial daughters of the Creator, namely Phouoibi, Ereima, Yumleima, Thumleima, Ngareima and two other younger sisters, came down to the Earth to perform their assigned task.
It is explained in the song that the celestial daughters paused their itinerary for a break where they enjoyed their meals and then beetle nuts. The knife used for peeling the beetle nuts was left hidden in a particular place which hence came to be known as ‘Kadangban’.
The song he is currently singing is an old folk song about Goddess Phouoibi, the ancient deity of rice and agriculture. Such ancient folk songs are no longer familiar to today's generation and call for active archiving and popularising.
Singer: Oja Angom Mera is a 100 year old man from Phayeng, Manipur. He used to be an important priest and also a khulakpa (village head).
