This article is about a Meitei folktale of a lady turning into a cicada insect due to stepmother atrocities. For the Meitei folktale of a lady turning into a hornbill bird due to stepmother cruelty, see Uchek Langmeidong.
Lady Haosi Namoinu being beaten up by her cruel stepmother, hitting on her head, after which she turned into a Harinongnang (Meitei for 'cicada') and flew away from the human world
After Haosi Namoinu's mother's untimely death, her father remarried with Nganurol Laoshigam Chanu (Loisingam Chanu), the sister of her mother. Spending a few days happily, Senbi Loikenba left for Kabo on the King's errand and during his absence, Haosi Namoinu was harshly treated by her stepmother.[4][5] She was not allowed to go outside and play with her friends. She had to work as hard as she could to satisfy her stepmother. Her bliss of household life was much worsened.
Her stepmother ordered her work after work and she completed it with no rest. She was forced to husk the rice, tired as she was, again she had to cook food for them and serve but she uttered no lamentation. Her stepmother's ruthlessness came to the highest degree and she ordered Haosi Namoinu, that if she wanted to join the feast (spring festival), she had to go to the maternal grandparents' house and bring a load of paddy rice (un-husked rice). She did so, but her stepmother was still not satisfied, and struck her head with a cookery utensil. Having been deprived of all youthful delights, the girl transformed herself into a Hari Nongnang (cicada) (or cricket in some version), with her clothes as wings and feathers, and flew away with ravishing tears.[6][3]
In ancient texts
Khongjomnubi Nonggarol
The story of lady Haosi Namoinu is mentioned in the Khongjomnubi Nongarol as one of its two content stories.[3]
The following is a passage from the text describing the pitiable plight of lady Haosi Namoinu suffering the atrocities of her cruel stepmother:
One day Hāosināmoinu tenderly told her step-mother Lousikām Chanu that that day she and her companions of equal age and similar haircut had decided to have among themselves a match of kang. So she requested to allow her fetch the basketful load of paddy from the distant barn the next morning when the sun just shoots up with his brilliant rays, which the ill-natured and acid-tongued step-mother did not take kindly, and fiercely insisted on carrying out the task as enjoined. There was no means of escape for the poor girl, but on her return hardly had she stepped into the house and unloaded the heavy weight, when the termagant woman, always disquieting like boiling water, again bade her to perform household chores like husking the paddy with the pestle on the mortar and toil for fine grained rice. Unable to bear any further, the hapless girl made a retort against her saucy step-mother who, instantly flying into a rage, hit her head with a laddle. Then blood profusely rushed out of it.
Other than the Khongjomnubi Nongarol, another ancient treatise named "Hāosi Nāmoinu", tells the tragic story of the unfortunate lady Haosi Namoinu.
The following is a quote from the text, describing the ethos of the then people, their pleasure loving character and socialisation enthusiasm, in association with the nature.[8]
Like brothers and sisters born of the same parents, they then share to partake of what each possesses. "We will not depart together when the end of the journey comes. The end must definitely come for each one of us, but nobody knows when it may. We only know that all of us are waiting for that day. Good and delicious food nourishes the Jody and fine clothes make one handsome. There is an old saying that 'Pleasure makes one the king's companion and despondency only a grass-cutter.' Therefore, let us be mirthful and celebrate the new season. Let us, both young and old, play kangjei and play with fire burning the dry bushes. All men and women should make sumptuous feasts to dine together. You womenfolk should enter into competition for preparing new beautiful dresses and you menfolk for rounding up deer and other animals. After such a joyous feasting, let both men and women indulge in the play of kang by erecting a huge hall."
^Sharma, H. Surmangol (2006). "harinongnang". Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary (in Manipuri and English). University of Chicago. p. 203. Retrieved 10 April 2023. harinongnāng ꯍꯔꯤꯅꯣꯡꯅꯥꯡ /hə.ri.noŋ.naŋ/ n. cicada. Magicicada septendecium.
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