Heijing (Khamba Thoibi)

Heijing () is an event described in the Khamba Thoibi classical epic, a major work of the Moirang Kangleirol genre of Meitei mythology and folklore. It is a marriage proposal ceremony for Princess Thoibi of Moirang kingdom, where two suitors, Angom Nongban Kongyamba and Khuman Khamba, competed for her hand on the same day.

 Background 

The Heijing event occurred as a consequence of the Ukai Kappa incident. The crown prince, Chingkhu Akhuba, refused to acknowledge his elder brother, King Chingkhu Telheiba’s earlier promise that Princess Thoibi would marry Khamba. Instead, he decided to give his daughter to Kongyamba. He instructed his wives to prepare marriage gifts and set a date within five days for the marriage ceremony.

Khamba and his elder sister Khamnu were also told to bring gifts on the same day. The crown prince forbade anyone in the kingdom from selling fruits to the siblings, reserving the market only for Kongyamba. In another version of the story, Nongban Kongyamba bought all the fruits of the kingdom in advance leaving none, and there was no such extreme command from the crown prince.

 Preparation by Khamba 

Khamba traveled to Salangthel Hill, the village of the Kabui tribe, to seek help from Kabui Salang Maiba, the tribal chief and friend of Khamba’s late father, Puremba. The chief provided two baskets of exotic fruits not found in the Moirang kingdom. He also included gifts for Princess Thoibi, his sister Khamnu, and Khamba himself. Khamba returned home with the fruits and gifts.

The crown prince forbade his wives from touching Khamba’s gifts, threatening to divorce any who disobeyed. In response, Princess Thoibi sought help from her uncle, King Chingkhu Telheiba. The king instructed his queens to assist Thoibi in receiving the gifts, knowing the crown prince could not intervene.

 Reception of gifts 

On the day of the gift reception, Kongyamba arrived first with his gifts. Thoibi pretended to be ill, and her father informed Kongyamba of her condition, causing him to leave. Shortly after, the crown prince went to meet the king, and Thoibi immediately became active again.

Khamba’s gifts were received warmly by the queens and their maids. Thoibi personally arranged the fruits in eleven special dishes with the help of the chief queen, ten other queens, and ten maids.

When the crown prince returned home, he was thirsty and desired juice from sour fruits. Thoibi prepared the juice from Khamba’s fruits and served it to him in a silver cup. Upon learning that the fruits were from Khamba, he became furious and threw the cup at Thoibi. She pretended to faint, alarming the prince. The queens cried in distress, and he ordered Thoibi to go to Khamba’s house. Thoibi arose, but the prince’s anger continued.

 Related pages 
 Meitei marriage

 References 

Category:Meitei mythology
Category:Meitei folklore
Category:History of Manipur
Category:Marriage