ME-DAM-ME-PHI CELEBRATED ACROSS ASSAM

Me-dam-me-phi, the auspicious festival of Tai-Ahom community is being celebrated at several places in Assam on Wednesday. Me-dam-me-phi is the manifestation of the concept of ancestor worship that the Ahoms share with other peoples originating from the Tai-Shan stock. The Ahoms, who ruled the state for about 600 years since 1228, observe the festival on January 31 every year and the community gets together in different localities and areas to pay their respect to their ancestors and their contribution to society.

Me-Dam-Me-Phi 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.