Kumcha Lempi


Kumcha Lempi, also known as Kumja Lembi, is a woman in Meitei mythology and folklore of ancient Kangleipak. She is known for being a victim of an attack by a tiger in Khoirentak.
Her tragedy is frequently mentioned, narrated and retold in the Moirang Kangleirol legends, usually by the Pena (musical instrument) playing balladeers till present times.

Etymology

In Meitei language, "Kumcha" or "Kumja" means "year" or "yearly" or "annual" or "seasonal", and "Lempi" or "Lembi" means "graceful" or "gentle" or "elegant".

Background

Kumcha Lempi was very small when her mother died. After some time, her father remarried. Her stepmother was very cruel and rude to her, especially in her father's absence.
Kumcha Lempi suffered atrocities and bitter treatments from her evil stepmother in her life.

Tragedy

Once the king of ancient Moirang announced that no one should go out of their respective houses when the sun set off, because a wild tiger from Khoirentak was roaming around freely, among the reeds of the shores of the Loktak lake.
Upon hearing such news, Kumcha Lempi's stepmother, who was searching for every possible opportunity to get rid of her poor stepdaughter, intentionally and forcibly sent Kumcha Lempi, in the evening time, to the shore of the Loktak lake, telling her to collect basketful herbs for that very day's dinner, and not to come back to home if she didn't bring what is said to her to be brought.
While collecting herbs to be basketful, it was getting late. On her way, she was spotted by the so called Khoirentak tiger and ended up being devoured by the hungry beast.
When the remains of her corpse were discovered by the royal officials, the news reached the ears of the King of Moirang, who ordered Khuman Khamba and Nongban, to capture the lurking beast, as a divine ordeal of the two men's conflict of getting a hand in marriage to Thoibi, the only princess of the kingdom.

In Meitei literature

In Meitei literature, lady Kumcha Lempi is described as a friend of a girl of Kabui ethnicity of the hills of. Her Kabui friend later turned into a flower named "Chingthrao" blessed by God Thangching. Kumja Lembi immortalized her friend's name as "Ching-thrao", which is made of the words,, and.

In popular culture