By H.H. Mohrmen
In the previous article, we discussed the importance of rice as a staple food. However, rice is not only a dietary staple; it also serves various cultural and ritual purposes. Among the Khasi-Pnar people, many would not consider a meal complete without rice. For the Khasi-Pnar, lunch or dinner is incomplete without it. Hence, breakfast is called ja step/ji korti, lunch ja sngi/ji bashngai, and dinner ja miet/ji smi—each meal prefixed with ja. Yet, rice has many other uses and is deeply woven into the community’s way of life.
The Spirit of the Dead Visits
People still observe the tradition of keeping the doors ajar for three consecutive nights after a family member dies, and rice pot is never kept empty, some amount of cooked rice is always in the rice pot. It is believed that the spirit of the deceased returns to consume the rice. Elders often remind the younger generation never to wash the rice pot after dinner. Care must be taken to ensure that it always contains some rice—leaving the pot empty is forbidden. This practice stems from the belief that the spirit comes during the stillness of the night to partake of the rice.
Rice as a Lucky Charm
The concept of khaw rneng or khoo rneñ illustrates how closely the people are connected to rice. This tradition is followed by nearly all Khasi-Pnar families. Before setting out on a journey, a family member—typically the mother, grandmother, wife, or sister—packs a small amount of rice into a bundle and gives it to the traveler.
Before embarking on a journey, most Khasi-Pnar receive khoorneñ from their mothers or sisters—a symbolic blessing and wish for a safe journey. Many people also consider rice a talisman. Some keep a few grains of rice packed in their newly purchased vehicles for good luck. Others carry khoorneñ in their wallets.
Another layer of meaning in khawrneng relates to the concept of a person’s lifespan. It is believed that every person is born with a spiritual share of rice for their lifetime. When someone dies, it is said they have exhausted their share. If a person dies young, people often say it was because they did not carry enough rice to last through life.
Rice and the Measurement of Life
The Pnar not only have three different names for rice depending on its form but also use sayings like dang boon khoo. When someone miraculously survives a fatal accident, it is said that they still have rice left in their spiritual quota. Similarly, if a gravely ill person recovers, people say it’s because they still have plenty of rice. Conversely, when someone dies young, the common phrase used is wa da lut khoo—meaning they ran out of rice or did not carry enough.
This unique relationship with rice not only highlights its role as food but also reflects its deep connection to the way of life among the people.
Ritual Use of Rice
For reasons not entirely clear, when a chicken is slaughtered, rice is placed on the plate used to collect its blood. Rice is also used in various rituals. For example, during the choh syiar rite, a rooster is sacrificed during cremation. It is used in thmat pylleñ (egg divination) rituals as well.
A family is considered poor if there is no rice left in the container—ym em khoo de ha u prah/wieñ. In modern times, churches—particularly Protestant ones—use rice for fundraising through the tradition of khaw kham or “a fistful of rice.” The cook sets aside a handful of rice each day before cooking the rest. This act is a sign of gratitude for the blessing of another meal, and the collected rice is donated to the church.
The Spell of Rice and Its Other Uses
Rice is also used to attract good luck and ward off misfortune, referred to as eh pyrmai or eh rngiew. When someone feels uneasy, lacks confidence, or is emotionally low, they are advised to chew some rice to boost their charm and aura. Some people carry rice to protect themselves from curses or evil spells—chewing the rice is believed to neutralize the effects.
In traditional practices, rice is also used by worshippers of u thlen, where khoo thlen or khoo/khaw tyndep is used to cast a spell and capture a victim for sacrifice. When someone is involved in an accident and falls unconscious, they are sometimes made to eat rice in the belief that it can help them regain consciousness.
Rice Cultivation and Varieties
Rice grown in jhum (shifting) cultivation on hills is called kba loom. However, this method is gradually declining in the Jañtia Hills. Other varieties include sticky rice (khoo pnah) and red rice (khoo Pnar or khoo soo), which are unique to the Pnar. Transplanting rice seedlings into paddy fields is a relatively recent practice; earlier, people would sow rice directly. The four stages of cultivation are ploughing, sowing, weeding, and harvesting.
Once dried, rice is de-husked using two wooden tools: u thlong and u synrai. U Thlong is made from a large tree trunk, hollowed out to hold rice. U Synrai is a long, evenly-shaped wooden tool used to pound the rice and separate the husk or to grind it into powder.
The Khasi saying, “u Khoo na iing; ka doh na trep, u jhur na kper,” reflects the people’s self-sufficiency. Literally, it means, “Rice from the granary, meat from the pen, and vegetables from the garden.” This highlights the community’s control over its basic food needs. The traditional practice of rice-fish farming further showcases the nutritional value of the rice ecosystem.
Other Foods from the Rice Ecosystem
Many people think paddy fields are solely for growing rice, but the ecosystem offers much more. Beautiful rice terraces cut into hill slopes and river basins are impressive, but what lies in the fields is equally important.
During the rice-growing season, farmers harvest not just rice but other valuable resources. Bunds or stiar hali—narrow strips of land between fields—divide the land into sections and help retain water. These bunds also create beautiful patterns and are essential for managing the fields. The irrigation canals, dams, and check dams found in rice fields are excellent examples of indigenous engineering.
Besides grass, stiar hali also support herbs like ïamyrdoh (chameleon plant, Houttuynia cordata), ïali stiar, and tyngkhieh/khliang syiar (Centella, Centella asiatica). These leafy vegetables are part of the indigenous diet and are believed to offer health benefits. Today, they are also sold in local markets, becoming a source of income for farmers.
Another food found in the rice ecosystem is the fish known as dathli (in Pnar), Hi shlai (in War), or dohthli (in Khasi). Known in English as snakehead fish (Channa pardalis), they range from two to five inches in size. With dark brown coloring and a snake-like appearance, these fish survive in wetlands or mud and remain alive through the dry winter, re-emerging when the rains return.
Locals classify snakehead fish into three types: dathli wyrthoh, dathli yrngam, and dathli heh, based on size and shape. As farmers begin tilling fields at the start of summer, these fish return with the water and thrive in the flooded paddies.
Rice, which requires abundant water, ensures these fields stay wet—ideal conditions for the fish. In turn, the fish help by eating insects that harm the rice and fertilizing the soil with their waste.
This rice–fish farming system practiced by the Pnar is likely one of the earliest examples of its kind. At the end of the season, farmers harvest rice, catch fish, and collect herbs. Thus, the rice ecosystem not only provides staple food but also supplements the community’s nutritional needs and income.
The deep cultural connection with rice and its ecosystem is a testament to the long-standing tradition of wetland cultivation among the people.