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Ja Khonbo

Updated: Jun 8, 2023



Pnar explanation:


Ha Jaiñtia hi waroh kawi ym jooh em u leh ki ya ka ni ka li e Ja Khonbo. Kani toh ka rakom ki pnar wa sah ha Jwai næ du ki Jwai wa pynjooh ya ini i rakom li e Ja Khonbo.


I rakom li e "Ja Khonbo" toh i rakom, iwa, da i ja jooh lai e sñiawbha ki wahaïung wahasem, ki lok ki jor ïa ka manbei hadien wada kha khon ko. Ini man i kam chi wynta na i pyn-eh bok pyn-eh rngu ya ka bei wa ya'i khon wa dang kha.


Ki waheh nachua sikai ki u pynmlien u li e jakhonbo da'iwa u li e da iwon iwon i wada chet kynsaai næ i wa bang dooh. Ki waheh nachua leh da pynjooh ki da'iwa u song lang ha'itæ i jakhonbo toh ka "pylleiñ chet", "i jadoh", i "dohseiñ" wa i "dohsyiar chet sngat", "dai chet sngat" wa kiwi kiwi.


Khasi explanation:


Ïa ka rukom ai "Ja Khonbo" ym ju leh ha ka ri Jaiñtia baroh kawei. Kane ka dei ka rukom jong ki Pnar kiba sah ha Jowai, ki dei ma ki kiba pynmlien bad pynjuh ïa kane ka rukom.


Ka rukom leit ai "Ja Khonbo" ka dei ka rukom ha kaba ki bahaïing bahasem, ki lok ki jor ki ai sngewbha da ka ja ïa ka longkmie kaba kha khun. Kane ka long shi bynta na ka pyneh bok pyneh rngiew ïa ka kmie bad i khun ba dang kha. Ka ktien "Khonbo" ka mut khyllung.


Kiba rangbah naduh mynshuwa ki la hikai ban pynmlien ïa ka leit ai "Ja Khonbo" da kano kano kaba la shet kynsai bad kaba bang duh. Kiba rangbah ki la pynmlien ruh ban song lang ha ka Ja Khonbo da ka pylleng phon, ka jadoh, ka dohsniang neiïong bad ka dohsyiar kylla, u dai sboh neiïong bad kiwei kiwei.


English explanation:


The custom of "Ja Khonbo" is not prevalent all over the Jaiñtia Hills. This custom is practiced only in the town of Jowai and it is the people of Jowai who have established this custom.


In the custom of "Ja Khonbo" the relatives and friends gift rice that has been cooked well, especially for a mother who has birthed a child. This is part and parcel to strengthen the good fortune and fortify the essence of the mother and her child. The word "Ja" means rice and the word "Khonbo" means baby.


Elders have taught that only the most special and most delicious food are to be given as "Ja Khonbo". Elders have also taught that boiled eggs, jadoh (rice cooked with meat), dohsniang neiïong (pork cooked with black sesame), chicken curry, dai sboh neiïong (dal cooked with black sesame) and others are included in "Ja Khonbo".


"Ja Khonbo" is a custom practiced by the Pnar people of Jowai. It is a wonderful custom that expresses care for a mother and welcomes a child into the world. 🤱🧑‍🍼👼 🙏
Khublei Chiboon Anvil ya i e jingmut yong phi hawa thaw ya kani ka post! 😄🙏
🟡 Source: Anvil Ritre Laloo
🟡 Khasi and English translation by @speakyourroots

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