Hae Nang Meaw

Hae Nang Maew

                   The Thai society is predominantly an agrarian one. Rain plays an essential role in the cultivation of rice and other staple crops. Thai farmers believe that rain is a gift from the deities up above. When it fails to fall in the monsoon season, crops suffer from drought. Crop yields are affected, and other related activities are halted. So a ceremony to ask for rain from the deities must be held. These rain-soliciting ceremonies are common, only slightly different in the northern, central and northeastern regions of the country.

                   Isan people know that drought is caused by weather changes. They also believe that it happens when a lot of people or those in governing positions do not adhere to moralistic codes. The deities are displeased with this, and therefore refuse to let the rain fall in the rainy season. So when things have gone wrong, it is necessary to ask for the deities’ mercy by holding a ceremony. A cat has a very important role in this ceremony, because of the fact that it dislikes water. When it rains, when a cat gets wet, it miaws. So the rain summoning tradition stemmed from this old belief that if a cat is to get wet (by being spashed with water), its cry is related to pleading for the clouds to break. In the rain-making ceremony Isan people make a pleading by reciting rain-making verses known as “tao mae nang maew” or “ hae nang maew”, literally meaning the parading of a female cat.

                   They start by picking 1-3 Sisawat Siamese cats and putting them in a bamboo or rattan basket which has a cover. Cloud-colored cats or black cats are preferable, believed to be good luck ones. A wooden pole carried at each end by 1 man is used to carry the basket with the cats in it. Other things needed are five pairs of candles and 5 paired flowers. Before putting the cat (nang maew)in the cage, the eldest among the ritual performers will say to the cats, “Nang Maew, may you pray for the rain to come”. When the basket cover is put on top, they made sure that the cat will still get some water splashes thrown by the people at the paraders. The cat is adorned around its neck with some accessories. It is then paraded through the village.

                   As the parade moves along through the village, some elderly folks begin reciting the rain-making verses. Other fellows in the parade repeat after them. The cat basket is carried right in front of the procession, followed by the group of verse reciters. The others noisily and joyfully join. They sing and dance to the music of a traditional band, and drums and gongs. When the parade passes by any house, the people come out to welcome them and to throw or pour water on the cat. The angry cat miaws. Some just throw water at the paraders and not the cat.

                   The women joining the parade wear white face powder, and have large fresh flowers in their ears. The paraders sing and dance noisily and merrily as they march around through the village. Other village folks come out to greet them. They are afraid that if the nang maew is not well-treated, it may be angry and therefore stop the coming of rain. The people believe that 3-7 days after the ceremony, it will rain. This hae nang maew not only boosting their morale about the rainfall, it also helps to reinforce the unity of the village folks, because practicing this old ritual custom requires communal participation and efforts.

                   The hae nang maew recitations in different Isan areas may not be the same exactly. But what is common is the narration regarding the adverse effects of the drought and the solicitation for rainfall. In the central region, if rain is scarce in the rainy season or it starts late, causing dry spells to last too long and crops suffer as a result, people will be prompted to hold the hae nang maew ritual in the same belief that rain will come soon after that.

                     A remark made about the hae nang maew by Phraya Anumanrajadhon is interesting. Cats dislike being wet so since olden days they have been associated with causing droughts. To lift the curse, they are to be drenched with water. A female cat is put in a ta-khong, a bamboo basket or jar. A wooden pole is inserted through the basket so that it can be easily lifted and carried around the village. The procession is accompanied by traditional music consisting of the drums, gongs, cymbals and claves. The people sing in chorus the hae nang maew song. The lyrics, in verse, are concise and simple.

                   “Lo, Nang Maew … She miaws, asking for chicken. That denied, she cries for rain instead. Please someone sprinkle my cat with some holy water – my cat and its precious Cat’s Eye. Every year it rains in the sixth month. But this year, how unfortunate, no rain comes at all. Father-in-law, son-in-law are but lying there, arms on their foreheads. Difficult time it is for a widower, and his so many children. No rains, no grains, no rice, bad time indeed. Young ones, old ones, little ones, come play the nang maew fun. Come sing, come dance, come pray for rains. Lo! Behold! It rains, it pours!”

                   As the procession advances from house to house, they all sing the hae nang maew song. The lyrics can be different in different places. In some, even obscene words are heard. As the procession passes by, the people cheer and throw some water, using handled bowls, onto the nang maew basket. They give treats to the paraders – liquors, cooked food, hard boiled eggs, or other goodies. Small tips are also given to the ones carrying the ceremonial trays and leading the parade. The parade soon moves on through the whole village, then comes back to the starting place. They lavish in more food and enjoy the loud joyous party. The cat is released. But if the next day it still does not rain, they will do the hae nang maew again, and again the next day, until rain finally comes.

                   The hae nang maew as practiced in the north is quite similar to the rituals in the Central and Isan regions. They put a cat in a cage (actually a bamboo/rattan basket decorated with flowers), and carry it around in a parade through the village. A traditional music band consisting mainly of drums and gongs add more fun and merriment to the parade. The parade passes by the houses. The residents come out to greet the paraders and to splash the nang maew with water.

บุญศรี ตาแก้ว. ธรรมเนียมประเพณีอิสาน ตอนพิเศษ มีแบบเรียน 3 ภาษาคือ 1.อักษรขอม (กัมพูชา) 2. อักษรตัวธรรม (ไทยอิสาน) 3. อักษรไทยน้อย (เวียงจันท์). กรุงเทพฯ : ส.ธรรมภักดี, 2545. (in Thai)

สงวน โชติสุขรัตน์. ประเพณีไทยภาคเหนือ. พระนคร : โอเดียนสโตร์, 2512. (in Thai)

สุนีย์ ประสงค์บัณฑิต. ประเพณีสิบสองเดือน : พิธีกรรมที่เปลี่ยนไป.  กรุงเทพฯ : ศูนย์มานุษยวิทยาสิรินธร, 2546. (in Thai)

http://www.m-culture.in.th/moc_new/album/47089/ประเพณีแห่นางแมว 

www.prapayneethai.com

http://202.129.59.73/nana/legend/cat/cat.htm

http://www.openbase.in.th/node/8754