The Pelican (Nuai)
Once there lived a farmer in a village. He lived happily with his wife, daughter named Khumbarti and his parents. Tragedy struck and the wife suddenly died. The farmer remarried and had a daughter who was born with a golden complexion. They named her Khumpui. Both sisters loved each other and were inseparable. As they grew, Khumbarti grew jealous of her sister's golden skin.
One day, both sisters went to the field to bring in the harvest. In the evening Khumbarti had nothing to carry home for she wasted time eating melons and cucumbers, while Khumpui had filled up her Langa (cane basket) for the family. Khumbarti asked her sister to give her some vegetables but Khumpui refused. On the way home they passed a river near which was a large banyan tree. Khumbarti tied a swing and began to swing. When it was Khumpui’s turn, Khumbarti pushed her so hard she fell into the river and was swallowed by a large Bual or catfish. Soon the river turned yellow from her skin. Taking her sister's cane basket, Khumbarti ran home.
After a while, the grandmother went to the river to bathe. She wondered if someone added turmeric to the water for it was yellow, but when she touched the water it did not leave any stain. She bathed and began to wash her clothes on the bamboo wharf. Every time she hit the wharf, a voice called out,
"Oh grandmother you hit my leg".
Next it was an arm and head. Grandmother looked under the wharf and saw a large catfish. After catching and cutting up the fish, they freed Khumpui.
On hearing what happened, her father locked up Khumbarti in a large bamboo cage and left her to starve. She entreated a flock of pelican flying overhead with song who gave her feathers, a beak and talons. Wearing these Khumbarti turned into a Pelican and flew away. As her family implored Khumbarti to return, she asked them to place cake and water on the roof top during Hangrai and she would visit.
Till today, you can see the pelican visiting during winter season.