Chakshangs in My Locality

Manipur is a great place where many ethnic groups dwell together. People of different communities live hand in hand.  Manipur has got its unique identity, be it in natural beauty or culture which cannot be found anywhere else on earth.

Since the inception of Vaishnavism in Manipur, there has been many social and cultural changes. The major changes, to name a few, are religion, scripts, rituals and offerings and last but not the least in food habit of this tiny landlocked state of North-East India. Majority of Meitei- the largest ethnic group of Manipur adopted Vaishnavism and thus became Hindu . 

Brahmin priests and pujaris have been performing social rituals like marriage, death, birth,etc. Also there are lots of non ritual events where people feasts together or had meal as lunch or dinner in conferences or meetings. So here come the feasts and the peoples who are responsible in cooking these items to serve all hungry belly in these events.
Apart from priests or pujaris who perform all rituals, cooking for the feasts and gathering are done by brahmin chefs who cook and serve food to all the invitees of the ceremony. Here in Manipur these chefs are literally knowingly or unknowingly been called as "Bamon Bujari" or "eigya".

The exact year and the event which marked the beginning of these ritual and utsav cannot be traced back. Elders suggest kings and nobles started such offerings like any other Hindus do in India. 

 Space for preparing feasts became a problem and also peoples get a busy schedule  on various field and works.  So they began to look out a way which is easy, economical and convenient service to serve all the requirement for catering. Chakshangs came as a reliable option to serve the purpose by the beginning of 21st century.

Chakshang literally means "kitchen " run by brahmins pujaris or bujaries responsible for preparing foods which comprise of rice and vegetables and non vegetables (fish only). The service starts from from Bamon Leikai in the Imphal East District of Manipur, a Brahmin dominated locality and famous for its brahmin cooks or chefs.

Chakshangs are like rented kitchen and only difference is the karmadhari or the family or responsible person which is performing a ritual ceremony or celebration, have to pay according to the quantity or the capacity he want to organise fully in advance or part of the total expediture as per agreement with the proprietor or the  owner of the chakshangs.

These chakshangs, will provide you everything needed for the feasts or utsavs right from utensils, drinking water, seats(paper or mats) to sevaris ( persons meant for cleaning the spot and cleaning and washing the utensils). And another thing which people can have from chakshangs is that, for those who have place for preparation but do not want to mess up with with those marketing stuffs he can pay everything and made to deliver all the stuffs and chefs or eigya bujaris at his or her  residence.

With its economic aspects , chakshangs are serving manipuri peoples with hygienic food prepared with full sanitation and care. Business of chakshang is a growing trend in Manipur and its significance and the role played  can not be ignored.

This is my first post as my blog assignment. In my next post you will be witnessing the detailed profiles of chakshangs operating from Bamon Leikai.