| Description |
Talang or the ox sacrifice ritual is one of the three main rituals performed by Lhops community; each of which includes an animal sacrifice. Tseney is an annual festival where each Lhop family sacrifices a rooster, while the Tenlha Soel ritual involves the sacrifice of a pig. Talang ritual is derived from the name of the deity of the Laskey clan that sacrifices an ox. Although Lhops are Buddhist by nature, the Lhops continue to practice many pre-Buddhist rituals which includes an animal sacrifice with no taboo attached to it for the slaughter of animals, hence everyone readily volunteers for the ritual.
The ritual is conducted on any day preceding the 19th day, since, after the 20th day; it indicates the close ending of a month, which is seen as the end of the life of the month, and thereby considering it as inauspicious days. It is conducted once every nine years, since this ritual has had huge financial implication on a household.
The ritual is conducted in an individual’s family home with an elder member of the family, generally a man, with support and help from other community members. This ritual does not require any monk or a pandit or any other specialist to conduct this ritual. Usually the ritual is performed by the Laskey clan household.
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| Transmission method |
On the day of the ritual, early morning, women spin cotton into a long cord of thread, where it is tied like a fence in the area where the ox is to be slaughtered. The white cotton thread area symbolizes the pathway for the deities to descend to earth to receive the offerings, and bless the people with health and wealth.Fruits, cereals, ritual cakes, butter lamp, dried fish and other offerings are also made ready for the offering.
The ritual begins with the cleansing process, by gently pouring water (from Amochu) from a large bamboo tube till the ox shakes or shivers its body, which is believed to be a sign of acceptance by the deity. Water from the Amo Chu is considered pure and fit to be used to cleanse any defilement associated with the ox. Purification is also said to be done by burning of aromatic leaves. Then a family member smears butter on the head of an ox, while people chant verses as a sign of good luck. After the cleansing process, the ritual killing takes place with stabbing of the ox from the either side. The ox is stabbed by a spear, which is made by tying a sharp knife on to a long bamboo stick. A male member of the family or a relative takes the responsibility of undertaking the ritual killing.
A long strip of meat from the backbone along with the head is taken out and offered on the temporary altar located in a corner of the house. The head of the ox is tied above the entrance of the house to ward off evils, while the family members and relatives assemble and chant a verse. The head of the ox on the entrance represents Talang, the protector deity of the Laskey clan, and also considers it as the guardian of their homes.
Twenty seven leaves with attached stems are brought into the house called Pinlha. The leaves are bound into three sets, consisting of nine leaves each. On each of the leaves, circles are drawn in anti-clockwise, with blood of the ox by an elder of the family. The nine leaves in each set signify the offerings of the nine generations, and the three sets represent the past, present and future generations. The three set leaves are left tied to the beam until they fall off naturally or degenerate by itself. Ritual cakes, alcohol, fruits, butter, cereals and biscuits are also offered along with the slaughtered ox by the people. The ritual concludes with serving of millet pancakes, alcohol and entrails dishes along with a piece of raw meat per person. The ritual almost lasts a day. People who have married outside of their community are allowed to drink, eat or join the gathering outside the house, but they are not allowed to enter the house where the offerings are made.
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