Speak Your Roots

Tag: seasons

  • U ‘Nai-it

    U ’Nai-it u dei u bnai uba shiphew jong ka snem, u dei u bnai uba ar jong ka Synrai. U bnai ba nyngkong jong ka Synrai u dei u 'Nailar. U 'Nai-it u don saw taïew lane arphew phra sngi.

    Une u bnai u wan long kyrteng na ka jingpah u kbeit bad kiwei pat ki jait sim kiba her ha suiñ bneng. Ha une u bnai haba u kbeit u swait ha suiñ bneng ban kem sim ne kem khnai u ju pah ‘it it-it it’.

    U long u bnai ba ki sim laiphew jait ki sngewtynnat ban her suwari ha suiñ bneng ban kem khnai ne khñiang. Baroh ki jait khñiang, ki dkhiew bad kiwei pat ki kynja ba im ki sngewtynnat ban paw pyrthei ha une u bnai. Ki ïa mih na la ki jong ki jong ki trep ban ïalehkai bad rynsied sngewbha ha sla khyndew namar ka bneng ka la rang itynnat bad u kba u la sdang saw doh.

    "U 'Nai-it" is the tenth month of the year and it is the second month of Autumn. The first month of Autumn is " 'Nailar" (which roughly corresponds with September). "U 'Nai-it" has four weeks or twenty-eight days.

    This month gets its name from from the chirping of a bird called "u kbeit" (which the Khasi dictionary calls "a kind of hawk") and other kinds of birds. During this month "u kbeit" while hunting smaller birds and rats makes an "it it-it it" sound.

    Different types of birds go around flying everywhere during this month to hunt rats and insects. Many kinds of insects, ants and others like to emerge during this time. Animals and insects enjoy this time of the year as the weather is warm and sunny and paddy also begins to redden.

    It is interesting that the Khasi calendar has 13 months of 28 days (except in a leap year). The calculation of the months corresponds to the phases of the moon.

    Source: Rev. Dr. Ïarington Kharkongngor

    English translation by @speakyourroots

  • Jymmang, Jympa

    U Jymmang, u bnai uba san jong ka snem, u dei u bnai pyrem. Kumba long kiwei pat ki bnai, u Jymmang u don saw taïew lane arphew phra sngi pura.

    Baroh ar ki ktien "Jympa" bad "Jymmang" ki ïa ïaid ryngkat ryngkat. Ka ktien "jym" ka long ka ktien tynrai. "Pa" bad "Mang" ki long ki ktien bynrap. "Pa" ka mut "per" ne "jngi" halor um bad "mang" ka thew ïa ka "rmiang shyntur" jong ka wah. Namar kata, ka ktien 'Jympa" ka mut kaba per ne jngi halor um katba ka ktien "Jymmang" ka thew ïa ka jingsdang ka um ne ka wah.

    Ha u Ïaiong u slap u la sdang ban hap. U shu hap teng teng tang ban ai um ïa ka khyndew bad ïa ki jynthung. Ka khyndew ha kawei pat ka liang, ban pynum ïalade, ka kjit lut ïa ka um slap baroh kaba hap ha une u bnai. Ki wah bad ki duid ruh haba ki ïoh slap teng-teng ki la sang ban tngen naba la tyrkhong eh baroh shi aiom tlang.

    Ha u Jymmang u slap u la sdang ban ther bad ki wah ruh ki la sdang ban nang kiew. Ki khynnah ap masi bad ki nongrep kumjuh ki sngewtynnat eh ban sum bad "jympa" ha une u bnai namar la "jymmang" ka um. Baroh ar ki ktien "jympa" bad "jymmang" ki thew ïa ka um tangba ki ïapher ha ka rukom jingpyndonkam.

    "Jymmang" or May, the fifth month of the year is a spring month. As the other months, May has four weeks or twenty eight days.

    Both words "Jympa" and "'Jymmang" go hand in hand. The word "jym" is a root word. "Pa" and "mang" are the supplementary words. "Pa" means to float or swim in water and "mang" refers to the mouth of a river. Thus, the word "Jympa" means to float or swim in water, while the word "Jymmang" refers to the beginning of a mass of water or a river.

    In April the rain begins to fall. It arrives intermittently so as to provide water for the earth and plants. The earth, to water and replenish itself, takes in all the rain water in this month. Rivers and streams who have received rainfall are rejuvenated since the dry months of the winter season.

    In May the rain begins to fall heavily with river levels rising. Cow herders and farmers enjoy to bathe and swim or float in water because of the increase in water level. Both words "Jympa" and "Jymmang" refer to water with the only difference being the way they are used.

    The Khasi names for the month of May have multiple meanings 🌦️⛅🌤️🌱🌿
    A knowledge of the seasons and what they entail is important for broadening our understanding of culture and practice. 😃🏞️🌄

    🟡 Source: Rev. Dr. Ïarington Kharkongor
    🟡 English translation by @speakyourroots