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Translation (Rita Seng Mai)
The generations of Chyanun Dung and Pawngyawng Dung, the Kachin people, had a culture of how we gave our brides. The son of Ninggawn Wa Chyanun and Jan Woi Shun, Ninggawn Wa Magam married Htang Wa Majan, who flattened the earth. His brother, Ninggawn Du Shawa Nang married Numraw Jabang, who was a dragon. His parents told him, "My son, go and see your bride at the confluence." Then Ninggawn Du Shawa Nang saw something shining brightly in the water and went back home. His parents asked him, "Did you see her?" He answered, "No, I just saw something bright in the water." They told him to go there again the next day. He saw a woman standing on a rock at that time. Marawn Hkawn Jabang, the dragon, was a gorgeous and beautiful lady. They introduced each other when they first met. He asked her, "Who are you?" She introduced herself, "I am Marawn Hkawn Jabang. And what's your name?" He said, "I am Ningawng Du Shawa Nang. Our names really match. I would like to take you to my parents. You are definitely my wife." She told him, "I want to be with you too. My parents will agree to be your wife. However, the place where humans live is really stinky. I can't live there." Ninggawn Du Shawa Nang reassured her and said, "Don't worry. I will build a bridge to take you to my parents." Then he actually built the bridge over the confluence and took her home. The Kachin people used that kind of culture when we married in a traditional way, Nat Jaw culture. We had 'Wa Hkyi Mahkrai Hpaga' which was a bridewealth. (Wa Hkyi means pig waste, and Mahkrai means bridge.) We don't take that bridewealth these days. Since she was a dragon, her strong scent couldn't be easily gotten rid of, even when they started their family life. To get rid of the scent, he used many different herbs and plants. However, the scent was still so strong. In the end, he let her walk past the elephant grass. Then her strong scent vanished completely. Therefore, when we got married, the bride needed to walk past the elephant grass. Of course, the girls were not dragons. However, when the brides were single, many men adored them. So the brides needed to walk over the elephant grass in order to get rid of other men's affection. These days, we hold a wedding ceremony instead of that.
Transcription (Lu Awng)
Moi Chyanun dung kashu ni pawngyawng dung matu ni jinghpaw wunpawng sha ni dai ni du hkra num shalai ai ngu htunghkring ningsa hte num shalai ai ngu ningpawt gaw moi ninggawn chyanun yen jan woi shun a kasha ninggawn wa magam hpe la ai gaw htang wa majan ngu ai lamu dup ga dup ai wa re. De a kanau ninggawn du shawa nang ngu ai la ai gaw numraw mahkawn jabang ngu baren shayi la ai re da. Kanu yen kawa nye kasha e ninggawn du shawa nang e nang la na an nnu yen nwa e kanam gaw le mali yen nmai zup ai de sa yu su ngu na sa yu yang le hka kata e kabrim di gren nga mu da di bai wa ai da. Mu sai i nye kasha ninggawn du shawa nang, nmu, hka kata e kabrim gren nga ai gaw mu da ai. Dai ni bai sa su ngu sa yang gaw shingjim gale ginchyim hpansa na hka lung ga kaw tsap taw nga ai da. Baren shayi marawn hkawn jabang, e kade ram tsawm ai ngu kahte wa ai nga tsa hku yam jashoi e he jalawng numri nga ram tsawm ai da. Dai hpe anhte wunpawng sha ni ningnan shachyen yang hkri kaba gaw kadai mi re ndai ngu sa shachyen yang ngai gaw ningrawn hkawn jabang ngu re nngai, tsa myit su ma kadai mi rai ngu, ngai gaw ninggawn du shawa nang ngu re nngai, e an 2 chyawm shingteng amying ra ra, yu byi singkaw ka ka, nu yen wa e la ngu kanam nang re sai, dai ni kaw na nang hpe ngai woi wa sana. E ninggawn du shawa nang e nang gaw wa na gaw re sai, nu yen wa mung jaw sha ai, retim mung nanhte dinghta wa yang mungkan ga de gaw matsat shabat wa zu wa nam grai nga ai, ngai gara hku nlu hkan nang ai ngu yang e, ninggawn du shawa nang tsun ai gaw hpa nra ai, ngai mahkrai htan nna woi la na ngu, mali yen nmai zup ai kawn mahkrai htan nna ninggawn du shawa nang a nta du hkra woi la nna woi wa ai da. Dai lai dai htung lang nna jinghpaw wunpawng sha ni nat jaw htung hku num shalai yang wa hkyi mahkrai ngu hpaga langai mi lang ma ai. Dai ni na prat hta gaw nlang sai da. Raitim mung baren shayi re majaw shan dinghku de sha ai shaloi lapu bat, pu sing manam nwoi hkraw ai da. Dai woi na matu hpung kawa law law dan jun na hkungran shalai timmung ntsai ai majaw, hpang jahtum e kumba ngu myen hku gaw ( kai) ngu dai dan jun nna shalai yang she pusing manam woi ai da. Htung lai len dai la nna wunpawng sha ni chyurum wunpawng sha ni gaw kumba koi num shalai ai gaw shinggyin masha ni gaw baren gaw nre shinggyin num re, retim mung mi shi num galai nwa ai, hkawn tsin hkawn hpa rai shaloi yawng e ra marit mayu ai, goi ye maraw shang e dinghkaw ngu ai sin maraw hpu ai ngu num shalai ai ngu re. Dai ni na hkritsan prat hta gaw num hkungran ai ngu na shamying ai re. |
