User:The Rupini of Tripura

The Rupini is one of the clan of Tripuri People. It is presumed that the initial habitation of Rupini people was at the site of the origin of Twi Rupini, which is supposedly situated at present Asom state. When other clans of the Tripuri migrated towards the present Tripura state, they also migrated along with other clans. It needs to be mentioned that like all other Tripuri peoples clans, they are also part of the great Borok/Bodo race. The Rupini river is still flowing in the state.

The mother tongue of Rupini is Kokborok, like all other Tripuri people which is also known as Tripuri or Tiprakok, but for an unknown reason the Rupini had been included in the group of 'Halam' in the census and in many historical documents of Tripura. This is illofical and unfounded by the historical linguistic and anthropolofical facts. With out verifying these facts, the government of India had also included in the list of 'Halam' when they were given the status of Scheduled Tribe under the constitution of India. The inclusion of Rupini in the Halam group must be removed and included in the list of Kokborok speakers Tripuri people.

The first ancestors of the Rupini was Ramni Chapia. While he was taking a dip in Twi Rupini river he got a stone, which he threw away only to find again. This stone told the ancestor that he is the god of Twirupini river, his name is 'Tanfangrai' and they should worship him, and they shall be known as "Rupini sa". Even today this Rupini god is worshipped every year by all the Rupini in community level as well as individual level.

Sub clans of Rupini:

Rupini are divided into four sub clans viz. 1) Kwcham Rasti 2) Kwtal Rasti 3) Thaithak 4) Paithak. Among them the Kwcham Rasti and Thaithak are the majority. The head of each of these sub clans are called 'Rai'

Each sub clans is devided  into twelve Panchi or Panji that is family line. These are 1) Kajari 2) Tiyol 3) Fungchau 4) Kerjang 5) Farute 6) Muria 7) Sutar 8) Paithokra 9) Sotoboroisa 10) Chuan mochomsa 11) Swmjang 12) Mwrfangsa. This division had been made during the time of king Sibrai, the Greatest of Tripura kings.

The work distribution of the Panjis

1)      Kajari: They are descendant of the head of the clan. They are engaged in the rituals of worshiping of all festivals. Some time they were asked to provide human of sacrifice to gods.

2)       Tiyol: they are the one who are responsible for controlling the society. They are also engaged for enforcement of law and order of the society.

3)      Fungchau: the are the informant of the king. They are also a assigned to collect funds for any social function and rituals.

4)      Kerjang: they are holder of umbrella of the king. Along side they also have the responsibility to protect the society and go for war and provide solder for the warfare as and when directed by the Tripura  kings.

5)      Farute: they are the priest clans. The performs all sorts of puja or worshipping and rituals of community and family level.

6)      Muria: they are the music player in the occasion of the puja, rituals, any ceremony and functions.

7)      Sutar: they are experts in handicrafts, specially the bamboo based products. The supply all sorts of furniture and family article to the king of Tripura.

8)      Paithokra: they are guard of the kings. They also guard the temple of kings and used to clean and maintain the temples.

9)      Sutoboroisa: they are assigned to fetch water for the king in any royal festivals and ceremony of kings.

10)  Chuan mochomsa: their job was to prepare and arrange wine and rice beer for the king and the royal festivals.

11)  Swmjang: they are assistant in helping out the in the kitchen.

12)  Mwrfangsa: they are assigned to collect vegetables and all other kitchen requirement of the king and at times of royal festivals.

Physical structure: Like any other Tripuri people they are also yellowish complexion, average tall, eyes are small, nose is short, mustaches and beards are sparse, jet black hair that is al the feature of borok race or mongoloid race.

Economy: Like all other Tripuri people they are also agrarians. Earlier days they used to do the shifting cultivation in the hillock and slopes. Then they also trained to plan land farming. Now many Rupini are employed in government as well as in private jobs. Many Rupinis are highly educated and found in medical engineering profession also.

Culture & Custom

Food habit: The main staple diet of Rupini is rice like all other clans of the Tripuri people. Meat is the most fabourite dish, among them the pork and the chicken are the most sought after. In heydays they used to go for hunting of deer, yak, wild pigs, boars, etc. like most other Tripuri people. Apart from the meat they also love to take the fish both dry and fresh one. The fermented fish, berma typical of Tripuri dish is also a must to Rupini. Apart from this they are also fond of taking drinks, both rice beer and the home distilled wine.

Religious belief: The religious belief of Rupini clan is same like rest of Tripuri people with little bit of variations. The concept of god and spiritual belief are simple like their own life. They have the faith on the almighty god, also on the evil spirit. Like the other clans of Tripuri people, their ultimate and greatest god is Sibrai or Subrai. Other gods are also similar to those of other community. These are Thupnairau/Thumnairok, Bonirau/Boonirok, Burasa, Noksupma /Noksuma Goria, Khulumgma, etc. apart from these there are like gods of  sun, water or Twibukma, and fire etc are being worshipped.

Festivals:  The Rupini also celebrates all the festival those are celebrated by other Tripuri people. These are Buisu or last day of the year, Sena or Goria, Hojagiri, Ker, Hangrai etc. There is hardly any difference in celebration of the festivals, other than minor variation in the procedure and steps. On these festival the pancake is the must item. Young and old, men and women all enjoy during these festival with their full heart content and dance drink and song were used to be integral parts of its. So only the culture of Rupini people also developed.

Sena: This festival starts on the first day of the Tripura new year, and last for seven days. On the last day Goria is worshipped. On the puja fowl, goat etc are sacrificed, different types of cakes, delicious dishes, and sweets are prepared in every home. The neighbours and the relatives are invited in dine in the feasts. The younger people pay tributes and respects by touching the feet of the elder in presence of burning lamps and insence sticks.

Mainungma khulum mung or Hojagiri: On this day the mailuma mutai or the goddess of paddy is worshipped. When the new paddy just arrives from the jhum, it is time to celebrate the Hojagiri on the full moon day of aswin or kartik of Tripura  calendar or the October-November month. It is generally given in the evening when the full moon rises in the sky. Some how it coincides with the Hindu Hojagiri laxmi puja, which probably might have been influenced by Tripuri Hojagiri. Pot full of rice new harvest is symbolized as goddess of paddy or laxmi. Generally a hen or she goat is sacrificed for the Mailuma. Now a day rice flakes, banana, and other sweets are also offered.

Kermwn or Kerpuja: Like other clan of Tripuri people this rituals is performed collectively at the community level among Rupini clans. Generally whole of the village is brought under the coverage of the ker, that is purification of villages. Generally in the moth of November-December this festival is performed. To prevent any unto wards incidence like death, births etc, which is considered as non-suspicious, pregnant ladies, patients etc are taken out side of the village to a secure place. The road coming to and going from the villages are blocked, till the puja is over, which may run for days together. On this it is the Lampra which is worshipped; a pair of fowl is sacrificed on the occasion.

Hangrai: This festival coincides with the Sankranti of the main stream Hindu, held o the last day of the Pous month which is generally 14th of January. On this day the remains of the deceased parents or the relatives are immersed in the sacred water which is generally in the confluence of two streams, or any flowing river. Lots of cakes, sweets, delicious dishes of meats of different kind, of fishes are prepared by every family, here is also no limit of rice beer on this day. The younger people pay tributes and respects by touching the feet of the elder in presence of burning lamps and incense sticks.

Cultural activities: The Rupini are very fond of folktales, which is called Kerang kautoma. These are inherited from mouth to ear generation by generation till today. As found in most parts of the world the grand parents used to tell the stories to their grand children. Some of the stories like 'jokhangfa ni kreang koutwma', 'achu thengkangsani', 'nowaisani' 'chubusani', 'soknarwisani', 'pengramsani', 'mwsasani', 'randijwkmani' are very popular among the Rupinis.

The song like are mostly based on huk or jhoom cultivation, called as 'tangblani rwchabmung' where as some are sang o the festivals these are called 'pandani rwchabmung'

Dances: Some of the cultural dances are 1) Goria mwsamung, 2) Tangblani mwsamung 3) Pandani mwsamung 4) Mamita mwsamung 5) Batolmwn mwsamung etc.

Some of the musical instruments that are used during these dances are Khamma, sumul, dangdu, chongpreng, sranda etc. these are same as those of rest of the Tripuri people. The tune of these instrument are very sweet, sonorous, and melodious