Buddhist Communities (a): Tai-Khamti Vernacular Architecture

The Tai-Khamtis or the Khamtis are regarded as Shanghai or the greatest of the Shans. Their original habitat was Mung Khamti Long or Bor Khamti or Manshi in Upper Burma. Originally, the Khamti population of the state were concentrated mainly in the Sadiya region. Later on, they shifted and settled in different parts of North Lakhimpur region. Presently they are scattered in some villages found in Bihpuria and Narayanpur areas of North Lakimpur district of and in Sadiya region. However, the tribe has sizeable population in areas of neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar.

In the Khamti villages, houses are constructed on both sides of a road, facing the road. Khamtis, who are follower of the Theravad Buddhism, establish the Buddhist monastery in a central location of the village. Their houses are constructed usually within a beautifully maintained campus, which possess different trees, a courtyard (telaang), and an entrance gate.

1) The Architecture:

The Khamtis construct one residential house (hwun / hwunhaang) for a family, using natural materials such as wood, bamboo, cane and takaou or jengu leaves. They construct the house on a raised platform of about 4 to 5 feet high, in a straight line. It is usually constructed in the north-south direction, which faces the south cardinal direction. The main entrance is kept to the western half of the front wall. The ladder (kaalei), which leads to the initial low-walled open portion of chan, is attached in the south-western end, facing main entrance. The ladder usually has 7 steps, but it may have 5 or 9 steps also.

The chan is used for receiving guests that invariably contains the domestic altar (khokfraa) on niche, which is a characteristic feature of the Khamti houses. Attached to right side of the chan, the khokfraa is a raised platform of about 2 to 3 feet breadth, constructed few feet above the platform at the level of the low banister wall around the chan. The altar platform rests on a notched bamboo frame that protrudes from the outer wall to space.

A corridor, fitted with a door (chuptoo), runs from the chan that leads to the rooms of the house. The house is internally partitioned to divide into room (khak / khaktinon) as per requirement. The northernmost room, known as the khok chao-hoon, is the main couple’s room while the first room is used as guest’s room (khak-pinong). The kitchen (khoktang / titang khao) is usually a separate structure, constructed on a separate platform to the western side of the main house and a narrow platform connects the houses. An open platform called chhanwan / chatang, used as the scullery, is attached to khoktang. The kitchen possesses the fireplace called hawktiphai / kutuphai above which they construct a three-tiered hanging bamboo shelf. The bottom shelf is called kafei while the top one is known as the kheng. They also make a ledge on niche in one of the wall of the kitchen to keep utensils and other things. This shelf known as kheng is similar in look and construction to the khakfraa, which too projects to the space. A second, back ladder (kaalei-on / hokolai-on) is attached to this platform.

The architecture of the Khamti house possesses a special feature that makes it different from the architecture of other tribes. This speciality is noticed in the traditional style of hip-roof the house. The hip-roof of a traditional Khamti house is not angular and flat but slightly convex and curved to the sides which give a beautifully rounded shape resembling a tortoise back.

Apart from this assembly of houses, Khamti households possess a stilt barn (ye / khao-ji) constructed to the southern side of the courtyard. The homesteads also possess a byre (khok-ngon), which is constructed in one side except the western side.

2) Processing of Materials:

The Khamtis process the construction materials through traditional process. They collect the materials before and after new moon but not on full moon and put different materials underneath water for varied duration. Thus, they keep the bamboos for 15 to 20 days, takou leaves for 1 to 2 month while wood is kept for 2 to 3 months under water. In this way, the construction materials are processed that enhance their durability. The bamboo strands (ttak) for thatching of the roof is prepared from a special variety of bamboo called “maaikaap”. The prepared strands are processed for one to two years in smoke by keeping them on the shelf above the fireplace. On the day of roof thatching, the strands are first cleaned with water and then boil in water for 2 to 3 hours, to make it ready for use. After roofing, to elongate the life of the roof they apply smoke on the roof from beneath for one to one and half month to tan the takou leaf of the roof.

3) Site Selection and Commencement Ceremony:

The Khamtis select the site for their residential house in traditional way. For the purpose, they cut a bamboo pipe while holding the breadth. Then seven number of rice are placed inside the pipe and bury it in horizontal position at the area of the proposed site where the main post is intended to embed. Then on the next day or after a week, examines the pipe and if all the seven rice are found intact, then the site is regarded as auspicious. However, the site is regarded as acceptable for the construction even if five of the rice found intact in the pipe.

The construction of the house starts on an auspicious day as recommended by the traditional diviner called Pathek. He recommends the auspicious day through traditional system of mangal- choa, carried out through consultation of Tai almanac . On the recommended day, construction commences with planting of the main post by a person whose birthday falls on the same day following certain ritualistic norms. Thus, the post called phinam fifa or chao-nam is embedded first , which is the northern middle main post of the house. Before planting the post, they put some rice grain, flower, and gold in the pit and ceremonially purchase the land from Basumati. Though they first plant this post, the south-east corner post (fifa) is regarded as more revered than the previous one. The fifa is believed to be the abode of the God Indra, which should not be touched with leg in any case. Whenever a member set out of the house, he or she bow downs and prays with folded hand before these posts.

4) Platform Construction:

The construction of a Khamtis house starts with the construction of the platform of the house. Thus, they first embed the platform bearing posts (chhawthok) which supports the breadth-wise beam called hoon. Over the hoon, the lengthwise bamboos called tonglong are laid which in turn supports breadth-wise half-culm bamboo called tung-khung. Over tung-khung, bamboo splinter (litt) is laid, over which bamboo split (phuk) is attached to complete the platform. The phuk is secured without using any bamboo splinter.

5) Roof Construction:

After the construction of the platform, superstructure is constructed. The special feature of the hip roofed Khamti house is that the corner posts of the house are squatter and the height of the subsequent posts increases gradually, which lends the special contour to the roof. Above the posts, the purlin (pay) in length wise direction is fixed and then breadth-wise ceiling joists (khoo) are tied between a pair of post. Above the purlin, common rafters (kangpa) are tied breadth-wise at certain interval. Then a lengthwise member called paykhouwm is attached at an interval. Above this, the roof (phenkon) made of round or split bamboo is placed. It is then covered preferably with takou (lungkha) leaf or with thatch (kha).

Finally, the walls are woven with bamboo splints to complete the construction. Khamtis do not plaster the walls of their house. After the construction of the kitchen in similar way, the fireplace is established over the bamboo platform. The fireplace is placed over sheaths of plantain tree, which contains about 6 inch thick soil held within a wooden frame. The soil for the fireplace is brought in odd number of times. Above this mud platform, they place a 3-legged hearth called king.

6) House Warming Ceremony:

The house warming ceremony of the Khamti people is very interesting and is a very dramatic piece of performance. On this occasion, an elderly person (having all living issues) takes seat near the smouldering hearth (Hauk-Tiphai / Kutu-phai) on an auspicious day. Then there comes the owner of the house clad in the traditional attire with his family members, hanging the traditional Khamti bag on his left shoulder that crosses through the right shoulder, while through the right shoulder hangs the traditional chopper held in the sheath (Mit-phunk) that hangs to the left side of the body. He puts gold like valuables in the bag and steps first on a stone kept on ground, below the ladder. Then he, followed by his wife and then the children, ascends the ladder (Hoklai) holding the attached support (Meikop). Meanwhile, the man sitting inside asks the owner of the house-where from and what for he has come. The owner then replies that has come there in search of shelter. The elderly man then says that the house is a suitable shelter and he can stay there. Then that man goes out of the house and the owner with his family finally enters the house. The owner of the houses then entertains the guests present with tea. On another occasion, the Bhante-Baba, the head monk of the village monastery is invited to bless the family. On this occasion also, the guests and relatives are entertained with a feast.

7) Beliefs and Rituals Associated with House:

There is prevalent various beliefs and rituals around house. Besides mentioned earlier, they arrange some other ritualistic ceremony in the house in different time of the year for the well-being and peace. Thus, the ritual of Mangala is arranged in the month of Bohag where Bhante-Baba is invited to home for his blessing . On another occasion called Phat-lik, scripture are recited in the home, where Bhante-Baba does not come.

They also arrange the worship called Kong-Mou-Phinam for the welfare of the family in the households. This worship is observed twice in a year, i.e. in the month of Bohag and Kati. For the purpose, they make altars in the front and backside of the house and worship the house spirit (Ghar-deo) . The altar is decorated beautifully with flowers and propitiates the God through lighting of candle and burning incense stick. Simultaneously, different foodstuff such as fruits, fried corn, pastry, fish, and meat are offered. The rice prepared from newly harvested crop is first offered to this divinity. Since the domestic altar of the Khamti people remains to the eastern side of the house, so head remains mandatorily to east while sleeping.