Kabo Loi (Khamba Thoibi)
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Kabo Loi (ꯀꯕꯣ ꯂꯣꯏ), also known as Thoibi Loi Thaba (ꯊꯣꯏꯕꯤ ꯂꯣꯏ ꯊꯥꯕ), or Loi Kumba (ꯂꯣꯏ ꯀꯨꯝꯕ), is an event from the Khamba Thoibi classical epic in Moirang Kangleirol genre of Meitei mythology and folklore. It tells the story of Princess Thoibi’s exile to Kabo (Kabaw), a historical tributary region of the then Moirang kingdom, in what is now western Myanmar. This event follows the conflicts in the Ukai Kappa, Heijing, and Samukhong events.[1][2][3][4]
Princess Thoibi refused her father, Crown Prince Chingkhu Akhuba’s, demand to marry Angom Nongban Kongyamba. Angered by her refusal, the prince said, “I would rather be childless than be the father of this evil girl.” He ordered his minister, Hanjaba, to sell Thoibi to the Kabaw chief for silver and gold and exiled her to the Kabaw region.[1][2][3][4]
Thoibi informed Khamba of her misfortune and pleaded with him not to forget her. On the day of her exile, she wept bitterly. Her cries were so loud they were compared to thunder. The queen and all her maids also wept. Minister Hanjaba escorted her to Kabaw. Along the way, Thoibi met Khamba, and both mourned the pain of their separation. Khamba gave her a staff to lean on during her journey.[1][2][3][4]
Token of chastity
Life in Kabaw
Upon arrival in Kabaw, Chief Tamurakpa took pity on Thoibi and kept her as a guest in his house. She befriended Changning Kanbi, the chief's daughter. However, jealous women in Kabaw persuaded Changning to treat Thoibi as a servant, sending her to catch fish and gather firewood. Despite these hardships, Thoibi constantly dreamt of Khamba.[1][2][3][4]
God Thangjing, the national deity of Moirang, took pity on her. When Chief Tamurakpa learned of the harsh treatment from his own daughter, he asked all the women to weave a cloth each. Changning called Thoibi a wayward child because she refused to marry Kongyamba, whom Changning considered a worthy match. Angered by his daughter's words, Tamurakpa intended to punish her, but Thoibi stopped him.[1][2][3][4]
Thoibi and Changning wove their respective cloths. Changning, jealous, tore holes in Thoibi's cloth at night using a porcupine quill. Thoibi intelligently mended the cloth, making it more beautiful. Tamurakpa admired Thoibi's cloth and discarded his own daughter's work.[1][2][3][4]