Tha Tha Thabungton (Meitei: Thaa Thaa Thaabungton; Old Manipuri: Thaa Thaa Thaapungton[a]) is a traditional Meitei languagelullaby.[1][2][3]
It is one of the Meitei folk songs traditionally sung by parents, usually mothers. It has reference to the aspects of bringing up their child, besides their biological relationship with their child. It also has reference to the musical harmony with the care of the child, which may also influence on the child's life and health.[4]
According to the opinion of some writers, "thabungton" (Meitei: ꯊꯥꯕꯨꯡꯇꯣꯟ) is the shortened form of "tha mapung maton" (Meitei: ꯊꯥ ꯃꯄꯨꯡ ꯃꯇꯣꯟ) (morphologically, "moon-full-top", literally meaning "full moon").[9]
Moon, moon, young moon, let me carry piggyback your morambi child. Please throw down a bunch of figs, youngmoon.[10]
Oh Moon! Let me carry your darling child on my back. ...[11]
The Meitei language term "Morambi" (Meitei: ꯃꯣꯔꯥꯝꯕꯤ) is translated as "darling child" in the publication of the "Oriental Institute of Cultural and Social Research".[11] On the other hand, the same term "Morambi" (Meitei: ꯃꯣꯔꯥꯝꯕꯤ) is defined as "a figure of baby, usu made of cloth" in a publication of the University of Chicago.[12]
The lullaby "Tha Tha Thabungton..." (Meitei: ꯊꯥ ꯊꯥ ꯊꯥꯕꯨꯡꯇꯣꯟ) was featured in a theatrical production named "Heyang Athouba" as a part of the "Rhythm of Manipur's 3rd Opera Production" organized at the JN Manipur Dance Akademi, Imphal on 28 July 2013.[9]
^"My memories of Imphal from 1941 Part 2 By Mohendra Irengbam". e-pao.net (in English and Manipuri). Retrieved 19 February 2023. Tha tha thabungton, nacha morambi pobige, pobi sanam nambige, heibong charong amatang thadabiraku thabungton. Moon, moon, young moon, let me carry piggyback your morambi child. Please throw down a bunch of figs, youngmoon.
^"My memories of Imphal from 1941 Part 2 By Mohendra Irengbam". e-pao.net (in English and Manipuri). Retrieved 18 February 2023. Tha tha thabungton, nacha morambi pobige, pobi sanam nambige, heibong charong amatang thadabiraku thabungton. Moon, moon, young moon, let me carry piggyback your morambi child. Please throw down a bunch of figs, youngmoon.