This is the tune and the lyrics to the chanting song "Choh Jamalung" (The Call of the Cicada) performed by @esra_syiem . The tune is endearing and draws in a nostalgia for those crisp village evenings. 🌤️🌲
This chanting song is sung by children at dusk as described in the post. It is popular in Raid Nongtluh of Ri Bhoi District, Meghalaya. Thank you @esra_syiem for sending this unique entry! 😃😃
Tag: childhoodsongs
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Ka Choh Jamalung (The Call of the Cicada)
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U Men Lyngkhung
Ha ri Khasi, hyndai ki ong,
u don u men lyngkhung;
kat shaba leit u kieng iarong,
ka khoh u kit kyndung.
U don ki tmaiñ ba jrong shipruh,
ka khlieh kaba syllen.
U kyllan khleiñ ba kan mih shñiuh,
u tah d'u sohmynken.
La sat syllang um lah shah shuh
teng teng u shad kulmar.
Ani! Ynnai… ka kwah mih shñiuh,
pleng dei kaba jynjar!
Rough translation:
"There once was Men Lyngkhung,
in Khasi times of old.
Wherever he went he carried his iarong
and a huge khoh on his back.
His beard and moustache were a feet long
and his head was bald.
He applied fat on his head hoping it would revive some hair.
He even used chilli!
Oh the heat on his head, he couldn't bear it!
He danced in a frenzy…
My goodness! Oh no! This wanting hair
is much too difficult!"
"U Men Lyngkhung" 😃😃😃 Remember those days when we were kids, how we would sing this? Another song that we should teach our kids!
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“Choh Jamalung” (The call of the Cicada)
As dusk fell, there are days in the valley of Ri Bhoi when children would gather outside their houses; and hold two little bamboo sticks in their hands. In front of a small tree or a branch and just beside the light bulb, they make beating sounds with those sticks to call the "jamalung" (an insect under cicada family).
The children from Raid Nongtluh would also phawar (chanting song):
“Et-et pule, charadom pule;
Saiñ syrmah siñ-jop, siñ-jop
Chi bang-op, bang-op.
Dap te ka dap-te ka dap dohkha,
Chang te ka chang-te ka chang kyrla;
O! Siñ lum, O! Siñ wah:
Ka kmei pha te ka tah, tung-dung;
U pa pha te u wieh, cha-rung”
The "jamalung" is captivated by the radiance of tungsten lights, and wings its way to the tree. The children are enlivened as they contend with each other for the catch. And the fate of "jamalung" is uncertain, it may be consumed, released back or played with till it is no more.
"Ka Choh Jamalung" (The Call of the Cicada) is a chanting song sent by @esra_syiem ! 😀😀 Thank you for this unique entry!
It is reminiscent of those childhood chants and games which sound like gibberish but no one cares because they're so much fun to say 😂😂😂 Those were the days when children were shooed away outside the house to play and shout 💞💞
"tungsten light" is the light from a filament bulb.