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Vishü Rita Krocha
Kohima | October 14
In Mimi village, located under Pungro sub-division of Kiphire district along the Myanmar border, the age-old tradition of bat harvesting, with both medicinal and spiritual significance, has been preserved and practised by the Bomrr clan since time immemorial.
With a long history of use believed to have healing properties for ailments such as diarrhoea, the clan has for centuries harvested bats both for consumption and as part of a ritual deeply connected to their beliefs about the afterlife.
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Profound Significance
“We have been harvesting bats since our forefathers’ time. It is known for its medicinal value and is important for our afterlife. Traditionally, when someone from our clan dies, a bat is also buried along with the dead,” explained Tangmuli Bomrr, a Gaonbura of Mimi Village, related to The Morung Express.
He elaborated: “If we fail to do this, our spirits won’t be accepted into heaven by our ancestors and they would ask, ‘why didn’t you bring any bird?”
The Timing
Usually performed in the second week of October at the end of the monsoon, the Bomrr clan holds the exclusive right to harvest bats, a practice primarily carried out in a cave known as “Laap Khen” in their native language, which translates to “Bat Cave.”
This year, the clan harvested around 10,000 bats during the three-day period from October 8 to 10.
According to the clan’s account, the highest number recorded in a single year was about 21,000 bats, while the lowest was a few thousands.
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The Process
In earlier times, several rituals were performed during the harvest, but with the advent of Christianity, Tangmuli noted, many of these traditional practices have since been left behind.
During the harvest, two fireplaces are made - one at the entrance and another deeper inside the cave, while nets are placed over smaller openings to prevent the bats from escaping.
According to Tangmuli, when the smoke fills the cave, the dazed bats are then collected by male members of the clan.
The harvest is traditionally performed by male clan members, but women, who were previously prohibited, now participate.
Meanwhile, the cave is accessed only during the harvest, and any entry at other times is considered a violation of customary law, for which a fine may be imposed.
The Aftermath
As per the Gaonbura, the harvested bats are further distributed to all the clan members regardless of their age.
Every male clan member including a newborn is entitled to an equal share of the harvest, he highlighted.
“We don’t consume everything right after the harvest, but we save some and make sure that it lasts us until the next harvest,” he pointed out.
A male clan member representing each household is also expected to be present on the first day of the harvest, he added.
With strong traditional and spiritual significance, the Bomrr clan continues to uphold the practice of harvesting bats every October.
Although Tangmuli acknowledged that many rituals have faded with the advent of Christianity, this unique aspect of their heritage remains an important tradition the clan is keen to preserve.
