Chief minister Tarun Gogoi lights the inaugural lamp at the Me Dam Me Phi celebrations on Tuesday. Picture by UB Photos

Jan. 31: Chief minister Tarun Gogoi today announced a grant of Rs 20 lakh to complete the guesthouse in Siukapha Nagar, Hatigaon, where Tai Ahoms had assembled to offer prayers to their ancestors during Me Dam Me Phi.

The guesthouse will be constructed for those who find it inconvenient to stay in hotels.

The lodge will cater to Tai Ahom students, the needy, tourists and scholars doing research on the community.

Last year on the same occasion, Gogoi had granted an amount of Rs 25 lakh to construct the guesthouse.

However, after making an estimate of the cost, the Greater Guwahati Me Dam Me Phi Celebration Committee today requested the minister to grant an additional Rs 20 lakh for its completion.

“We should never allow our culture to die and I hope the day will usher in an era of peace and harmony inspired by the ideology of the founder of Ahom kingdom, Swargadeo Chaolung Sukapha. The committee has worked hard to organise this event,” said Gogoi.

Also, an award to encourage the contribution of women in society and another named after Sati Joymati was announced by Gogoi. The award would be given from 2013, he added.

Apart from announcing a grant for the guesthouse and commencement of awards, the chief minister inaugurated the Ghanakanta Buragohain Auditorium on the premises. The auditorium was build with a Rs 10-lakh grant by the chief minister.

“The word ‘Me’ means offerings, ‘Dam’ means ancestors and ‘Phi’ means gods. So, ‘Me Dam Me Phi’ means oblation offered to the dead. The Ahom rule lasted for 600 years, starting in 1228 AD,” said Bhugeswar Konwar, head priest.

The Ahoms, before converting to Hinduism, followed their religion Banphi where priestly classes, Deodhai, Mohan and Bailung, performed all ceremonies in Tai Ahom language thoroughly scripted on sanchi bark or muga clothes.

Though one of the most important festivals observed by the Tai Ahoms, the celebration of Me Dam Me Phi was not restricted to the community. People from different communities poured in to Sukapha Nagar from morning to be part of the daylong festivities. They prayed in Ren Seng (temple) seeking blessing from their forefathers.

Witnessing the turnout, Konwar said, “Tai Ahom culture is slowly gaining back its lost importance.”

Pointing out the existence of many different communities in the state which is rich in heritage, Gogoi said, “Like this place full of people from various communities, we really are all united by the common values of humanism.”

Best known for the food, especially pork served at the Me Dam Me Phi, people here jostled for space to stand in the queue. While the event was well organised, only two guards were assigned to manage the queue.