What
Makes the Eclipse
I absolutely loved this
story. Each character has their own story within the big grand plan of how
eclipses came to be. There is an essence
of the modern day “Princess and the Toad” story with the uncovering of the
toad-skin to find a beautiful Ka Nam underneath.
How
the Peacock Got His Beautiful Feathers
I have heard many
stories about how the peacock got his feathers, but this one by far was the
most beautiful and elaborate. These stories go so well together. Incorporating Ka
Sngi adds consistency throughout the tales. Ka Sngi’s tears (The Sun’s Tears)
caused the spots of the peacock, reminding him and anyone who sees him, of her
love.
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| The peacock after his grey feathers are filled with the color of The Sun's Tears Provided by Wikipedia |
The
Formation of the Earth
This simple little story
was rather interesting. The love and rituals of a mother’s daughters formed the
valleys and mountains we have today.
The
Legend of U Raitong, the Khasi Orpheus
This hill is the origin
of wife- sacrifice? Poor U Raitong, his family taken from him by a terrible epidemic,
vowed to lament their death forever. Oh, but he has a secret life at night: he
plays his flute while the village sleeps. The poor Mahadei falls in love with
him, having his child. Pushed to death, she follows him unable to bear the
thought of being without her lover, forming the birth of the love sacrifice.
The
Tiger and the Monkeys
Tiger elected king
simply for strength… this could be dangerous. What is strength without wisdom?
The monkeys are ready to plot what would be a dispute for all of time. This
little practical joke was no joke for the tiger; he is determined to make their
little sister his wife. The monkeys make a clay image of the little sister,
only to have her head fall of when the tiger comes to see her, starting the
war. Wisdom and cunning surpass strength and ignorance.
Bibliography:Folk-Tales of the Khasis by Mrs. K. U. Rafy (1920).
Link to the Folk-Tales: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/37884
Tale of the Khasis sounds so interesting after reading your diaries! I want to learn the tales behind why moon eclipse happen and how the peacock got his beautiful feathers. I'll save the link on my computer and read it on free time. I read both of your diaries and the one tale that stood out to me the most was of the moon having shadows on it.
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