By Bluwin Sangma
Asking the spirits, I bow and pray,
Apetpa, Ranggupa, guide my way.
Allow me to till, allow me to sow,
Answer my plea, let mercy flow.
Beneath the sky, though you're unseen,
Bless me with visions bright and serene.
Bring me signs if you're displeased,
Banish your anger, let fears be eased.
Crops must grow in the coming year,
Carrying seeds both far and near.
Call the winds to spread them wide,
Clear the path where they reside.
Days of toil before the rain,
Digging deep with sweat and strain.
Driven by hope, I cut and clear,
Destined for harvest, drawing near.
Gathering smoke before the plow,
Giving thanks with every vow.
Golden flames rise in the sky,
Granting growth where fields lie.
Haha! Laughter fills the land,
Hoho! Joy is close at hand.
Harvest waits, the grain is bright,
Happiness blooms in golden light.
Hard work done, the rest is near,
Hands prepare for the coming year.
Hope is strong, the moon will glow,
Honoring cycles we always know.
Journey starts with baskets tight,
Joining hands, we share delight.
Joyful steps on sacred ground,
Jumping hearts in echoes sound.
Knowledge shared from old to young,
Kindred voices, sacred tongue.
Keeping faith in all we do,
Kneeling first before what's true.
Millet ripens, maize stands tall,
Morning songs in echoes call.
Many hands will pluck the grain,
Marking time in sun and rain.
Nourished earth, the time is right,
New moon glows with silver light.
Now the brews are set to stay,
Nights of dancing on their way.
Over fires, the elders tell,
Oaths of old, they weave so well.
Offering prayers, pouring wine,
Only blessings shall align.
Praising gods with songs of cheer,
Pouring gifts, the spirits hear.
Plates of feast and cups of gold,
Past and present tales retold.
Remember Saljong, great and wise,
Ringing songs beneath the skies.
Ritual flames in honor burn,
Rhythms call as seasons turn.
Stories weave through time and space,
Songs of ancestors fill this place.
Sasat burns, the rice is spread,
Sacred voices of the dead.
Thanks are given, gifts are laid,
Tales of gods will never fade.
Time may pass, yet still we see,
Traditions strong as they should be.
Under stars, the dance will start,
Uttering chants from sacred heart.
Until the dawn, the drums will play,
Uniting all in bright display.
Wangala rises, drums resound,
Waves of joy in steps unbound.
Wind will carry songs so free,
Whispers of eternity.
(GARO, VERNACULAR LANGUAGE)
A·CHIKRANGNI MANIANI
A·a O·patna Jumang sina,
A·ba cha·na on·ama on·ja?
Am·e nikuna sing·e ra·kuna,
A·nokgipa Abetpao Chinokgipa Ranggupao.
Bimangko nikjaoba jumango mesokku,
Be·enko nikjaoba jakario aganku.
Bame chakpabojok, jite katpabojok,
Bika chae ka·o nangode agan-mesokbojok.
Cha·re –rongjanggina bilsi gipinona,
Cha·chekoba dappana mibigilko bakpana,
Chakate re·angbojok, ong·kate katangbojok,
Chiring-chisik gipinona biap a·dam dingtangona.
Ding·kari sokna skang Wachi gakatna mikkang,
Dak dak den·bajok bola-wa·a pe·bajok.
Dap a·duoni a·ding a·pattalona,
Denkrange matchotjok den·kria badejok.
Gitchima chengding ra·naba wal·ku dimpang so·kua,
Ge·na-gamna skangba a·ko a·galmakchengkua.
Ge·na-gamna ong·katjok mia-misi gobajok,
Gamchatgipa salrangko gamna –ge·na jakkaljok.
Haha ka·dingtokbajok pante-me·tra an·sengjok,
Hohobajok a·bao mibol-misi nambao.
Ha gose da·osa jakmatangko nikpaaha,
Hajal man·pajaoba dikdiksade ong·paaha.
Jakari ong·oba nangkari sokoba,
Jaktomede dongtokja asongari rotokja.
Jagitalna taria migitalna nisenga,
Jabitchim sokbaona wa·al nate taria.
Kok sandibajok tengreng dokrokbajok,
Kerang kebatokjok mi aksropbajok.
Kuside da·osa gital gisik napjok·
Ka·dingjaoba chasongna da·ode wagam najok.
Ma·an-paan skia ja·delaan agana ,
Mama-ada taria jonga-griko namata.
Manigija cha·nabe da·a skang re·abo,
Mitdena cholgijade mandena chingijade.
Na·tik-na·bat cha·kuja ta·ma-ta·ring nimkua,
Narang bite akkuja chambil bipang gakuja.
Neng·gipana sengkua Ba·gipana nichaka,
Nokgipana mania Giteltangna saria.
On·tisa man·akoba bang·gija gamaioba,
Okkajaoba ku·sasru su·e-song·e dontoka.
Okmang rakjana kene Wangalnade taria,
Okmittangjana kene dingtangmancha simsaka.
Pakma damdil sambao krong songa mittino,
Pagitchamni chasongo ma·gitchamni kario.
Pangna su·e donronga soka dongo chekronga,
Patti-ra·rongipanaba biming minge donronga.
Rabigako gualja Dakgipako nikchangja,
Rokkimeko Amako Patti-Ra·rongipako,
Rugalnajok Sonibar Gogalnajok Monggolbar,
Ringgamatjok Nokmarang Okamatjok Sanedrang.
Saljong Pattigipana Misi Ra·rongipana,
Sasat Bolma so·ginok mirim gosatsatgnok.
Sa·attalo Nokmani pante-me·tra an·sengjok,
Salni –jani matchoto bilsi kari bon·choto.
Totmaria skango Kingmaria mineo,
Ta·skoko cha·apang mijarengko tinapang.
Ta·ni palo mi-giron Patti-Ra·ronchengangjok,
Tatmitteljok Misina so·mitteljok Saljongna.
Unonisa da·ona mandeni ma·kringo,
Ugita dakpachina patti-ra·ronpachina.
Uko mittelengana rasong on·tokengana,
Una so·dimikenga una wal·du kaenga.
Wangalbae nijokna sasat so·mikbajokna,
Wane an·sengtokbajok mitde mande sokbajok.
Wangalkari soktaijok bilsi-kari nataijok,
Wane sasat so·manjok Kram gogatman·piljok.