Yenning-tha

Yenning-tha (ꯌꯦꯟꯅꯤꯡꯊꯥ), also known as Yening-tha (ꯌꯦꯅꯤꯡꯊꯥ), refers to the spring season in Meitei language. It is one of the seasons in the Meitei calendar of Ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur). It plays an important role in different elements of the Meitei culture, including but not limited to Meitei festivals, Meitei folklore, Meitei folktales, Meitei history, Meitei literature, Meitei mythology, Meitei proverbs, traditional Meitei religion (Sanamahism), etc.^[1]

"Spring season in Meitei culture" redirects here. For the spring in mainland Indian culture, see Vasanta (season). For other uses, see Basant.

Divine female personification of Yenning-tha (spring season) in Meitei mythology and folklore

Yenning-tha is viewed as "the season of new sprouts; it is symbolic of new beginnings, new hopes and dreams". Multiple people refer to Yenning-tha as the season of new beginnings. It's seen as a sign of better times ahead and is linked to positive energy (including effervescent youthful spirit). It is considered as just opposite of the Naken-tha (autumn season).^[2]

Overview

According to "Manipuri Language Studies", Yenning-tha is explained as follows:

yen is often shortened to ye (/n/ dropping) when it is compounded with another morpheme that begins with a /n/, /m/ or /i/ and follows it. ... The compound of ye (leaf) and ning (butt or buttocks), yening literally means the butt of a leaf, the butt-like projection of a leaf that emerges at the axil (the upper angle between a leaf or petiole and the stem, or between a branch and the trunk) in early spring, which is bud in English. Yening does not usually occur alone. It it often found in the phrases yening hunba ((of a tree) to bring forth new leaves in spring season and yeningtha (sping season, the months when trees bring forth new leaves and flowers bloom). When yeningtha begins, yenou or new/young leaves (ye meaning leaf and nou meaning new) emerges on trees, shrubs and other perennial plants that have been bare since the fall. Young leaves breaking forth in early spring is called yenou chongba or yenou hunba.^[3]

In Meitei festivals

Yaoshang, a popular Meitei festival is annually celebrated during the spring season.^[4]

The precincts of a temple (not different from the annual agricultural cycle) are related to the several Rasa dance forms of the classical Manipuri dance. According to Meitei traditions, the spring season gives rise to the Basanta rasa and the autumnal to the Maha rasa.^[5]

A seven-day Manipuri Solo Dance festival “Okchari Yeningtha” was organized by the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy (JNMDA), Imphal in 2021.^[6][7]

In Meitei literature

The Kumdamsei

Main article: Kumdamsei

The Meitei language poem Kumdamsei has a musical rhythm. It talks about the spring season representing a new start. It shows that Earth is full of life again. The sun brings a new day and spreads light over the villages. This gives hope and inspires people to connect emotionally with the ancient Meitei way of life.^[8]

Seasonal changes show the natural order of the universe. The changing seasons are like the stages of a person’s life: from birth to adulthood, old age, and death. This reminds people that death is a natural part of life.^[8] The seasons also help people learn about celestial events. This helps make a calendar for farmers. The calendar tells them when to plant their crops. Without it, farming would be hard to manage.^[8]

The Leiron

The Meitei language text Leiron talks about the spring season as follows:

The swamp now presents a spectacle of teeming tender grass. The field is pointed green with young shoots...^[9]

Others

Yenningtha Nangna Khongdoi Hullakpasida is a Meitei language poetry book authored by Borkanya.^[10][11] She was honoured with the 3rd State Award for Literature, 2010 for the book.^[12][13]

Yeningtha, published by Young Writers' Forum, Imphal, was successful in creating taste for Meitei language magazines in the intelligentsia.^[14][15]