Chakluk
Chakluk or Chaakluk is a Meitei traditional dish. It is common among the Meitei people in Manipur, Assam, Tripura of Northeast India as well as in Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Etymology
The Meitei language term Chakluk is made from two words: "chak" meaning rice and "luk" meaning cooked rice. Together, they refer to a rice platter served with different dishes. The word "luk" comes from "luklen", which was a rice meal served on a large round tray called "lukmai" in ancient Kangleipak.Types
There are two types of chakluk: vegetarian and non-vegetarian.Vegetarian Chakluk
In medieval times, there was ban on meat and alcohol with the promotion of vegetarianism in Meitei civilisation. Worship of deities involved offering a rice platter called lairuk, served on a special plate made from layers of banana leaves and bowls made of the same material.This included the offering of lairuk as part of the worship. Over time, the tradition of maintaining temples by offering lairuk spread to the general population.
These temples prepared food, mixed with lairuk and shared it with the community. This shared meal became known as the "Vegetarian Chakluk."
Community feasting on vegetarian chakluk also became a part of Meitei life cycle ceremonies, both mourning and festive.
Serving
Sitting Arrangement and Etiquette of Eating
Following the instructions of the arangpham, some men lay out chakluklaa. Once the plates are set, the cooks begin serving the food. When they reach the sagolhawai, they inform the host to invite the guests to take their seats. The host bows and asks the guests to sit down and enjoy their chakluk. This tradition is called chak takpa.There is a strict seating arrangement and etiquette for eating chakluk. An elderly respected male is asked to take the first seat. The elder's row is reserved for them, and there are separate rows for men and women. After the men are seated, women can take the remaining seats in the same row. The preferred seating position is cross-legged, but some people also sit in a squatting position, as it is believed to be beneficial for health.
Chakluk is traditionally meant for an individual, and sharing is allowed only among children or between an elder and a child. Only after the person in the head seat begins to eat do others follow.
Uniqueness
Meitei chakluk has a unique style of serving sets it apart. There are specific rules about how chakluk is served, such as which dishes should be placed first, and where to position them on the plate—on the front, right side, left side, etc. Up until the dish of sagol hawai, the chakluk is served as a set meal. When this dish is served, the host performs chak takpa, inviting the guests to begin their meal.Once the guests are seated, the cooks serve the dishes in courses, following a set order. Dishes with gravy are served first, and towards the end, a sweet dish, is served, followed by fruit cooked with gravy. The meal concludes with the distribution of salt.
The serving of chakluk combines elements of both Service à la française and Service à la russe. This makes the Meitei chakluk different from the traditional dishes found in other parts of the Indian subcontinent, where all the dishes are served at once. The special rules followed when serving chakluk make it a unique tradition of the Meitei civilisation.