This a story from Meghalaya and it is about how the peacock got his iridescent tail.

In Meghalaya, among the Khasi tribals the luminous feathers of the peacock are referred to as Ummat Ka Sangi (Tears of the Sun Goddess) and are a symbol of heartache and love.

Once upon a time the peacocks were a dull, ugly grey. One day a vain and conceited bird, named U Klew flew to the abode of the Sun Goddess (Ka Sngi). She was a very lonely Goddess and she was enchanted by U Klew. She spent all her time with him and forgot about the earth.

Now the earth was distressed and there was an acute problem. A wise woman planted a mustard field in a form of a golden maiden. And the fickle U Klew left the Sun Goddess and flew down into the mustard patch. The Sun Goddess was heartbroken, she wept copious tears and these tears rained down upon him, creating shimmering colours upon his tail. It is a lasting reminder of her love.

There was a change now in the behaviour of all peacocks. They can fly only short distances. Every morning the male peacocks sing to the Sun Goddess in their raucous voices and spread their feathers to absorb the morning warmth.

Dear ones, the vanity and conceit of the male of the species!

Aim Hrim Klim

Tale 1 – About trees
Tale 2 – Two rivers in love
Tale 4 – The tears from Arunachal Pradesh
Tale 5 – A bird and a hot chilli
Tale 6 – The mermaid’s song from Puducherry
Tale 7 – Tigers are family
Tale 8 – The Hornbill’s curse
Tale 9 – Coconut palm
Tale 10 – Cuckoo cries all summer

Photo by Steve Harvey on Unsplash