Me-dam-me-phi Festival – Assam's Sacred Celebration Of Ancestors And Ahom Heritage

Me-Dam-Me-Phi Festival – The Ahom Heritage of Honouring Ancestors and Divine Spirits in Assam

The origins of this festival trace back to the 13th century, when the Ahoms migrated from Yunnan (China) to the Brahmaputra Valley under the leadership of Sukaphaa, the founder of the Ahom Kingdom. Deeply rooted in Tai spiritualism, the Ahoms believed that the souls of their ancestors continue to guide and protect the living. Thus, Me-Dam-Me-Phi became a sacred annual observance to maintain a spiritual connection between the living and the dead.

According to the Ahom Buranjis (chronicles), the early Ahom kings, including Sukaphaa and his successors, performed Me-Dam-Me-Phi ceremonies after victories, royal coronations, and major state events. The rituals are conducted by Ahom priests known as Deodhai and Bailung, who chant prayers in the Tai-Ahom language while making symbolic offerings to ten deities, including Khao Kham, Aai Laeng Din, and Ya Sing Pha.

History of Me-Dam-Me-Phi : 

Several historical records from the Ahom Buranji chronicles highlight how successive Ahom kings performed the sacred Me-Dam-Me-Phi ceremony to honor their ancestors and deities.

According to the Ahom Buranji (p. 77), King Siu-Huim-Mong “performed the ceremony of Me-Dam-Me-Phi,” reaffirming the royal tradition of ancestor worship among the Ahoms. Similarly, King Gadadhar Singha is recorded to have conducted the Me-Dam-Me-Phi rituals and offered sacrifices to the Ahom gods (Ahom Buranji, p. 264).

Describing the reign of King Pramatta Singha (1744–1751 A.D.), the chronicles mention:

“On the 28th day of the month of Dinkam (Pausa), on the day of Dap-Plao, the king left for Charaideo. On the day of Mong-Mao of the month of Din Sam, the king worshipped all the Ahom gods.” (Ahom Buranji, p. 279).

Likewise, during the rule of King Rajeswar Singha (1751–1769 A.D.), the text records:

“In the month of Din Sip Song, on the day Rai Si-Nga, the king worshipped the Ahom gods at Charaideo.” (Ahom Buranji, p. 313).

Anthropologist Professor B. J. Terwiel also confirms the continued observance of this sacred tradition in his work The Tai of Assam (Vol. II, 1981, p. 61), writing that:

“Me-Dam-Me-Phi still occurs every year at Charaideo.”

These historical references illustrate that Me-Dam-Me-Phi was not only a religious event but also a royal duty for Ahom rulers, symbolizing the unbroken spiritual lineage and devotion to ancestral deities that continue to define the Tai-Ahom identity even today.

The offerings consist of rice, fish, eggs, meat, betel nuts, and traditional rice beer, all presented at a sacred pillar called the Damkhuta, representing the ancestors’ presence. Prayers are offered for fertility, happiness, and social unity. In many villages, large community feasts and cultural programs follow the ritual, showcasing Assamese folk music, Bihu dance, and Tai-Ahom traditional performances.

Today, the festival is celebrated widely across Sivasagar, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, and Golaghat, with the grandest state-level celebration held at Charaideo, the ancient Ahom capital known for its royal tombs. The event not only revives the ancestral customs but also promotes the message of unity, gratitude, and respect for nature.

In modern Assam, Me-Dam-Me-Phi has evolved into a symbol of Assamese cultural pride and indigenous identity. The Assam government recognizes it as an official holiday, underscoring its importance in preserving the legacy of the Ahom dynasty, which ruled Assam for nearly six centuries. Scholars, cultural researchers, and tourists visit during this time to experience the profound spiritual traditions of the Tai-Ahom people.

Through Me-Dam-Me-Phi, the Ahoms continue to uphold a living tradition that bridges the spiritual, cultural, and ecological values of Assam. It remains a timeless celebration of remembrance, reverence, and renewal — connecting the people of Assam to their glorious ancestral past.

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