Title: “The Legend of Thrasipi : A Sangtam Folktale”

Language: Sangpur

Description: “The Legend of Thrasipi” is a well-known folktale of the Sangtam Naga community of Nagaland. The story narrates the great flood that once threatened villages along the Sangpur–Zingki River. Traditional sacrifices to the river spirit failed, until an elderly woman named Thrasipi responded to the mysterious call of the waters. Carrying a simple meal in a gourd and supported by her bamboo staff, she walked toward the flood, and with each step, the waters miraculously receded. At the confluence of two tributaries, she paused to eat, left her staff behind, and vanished—believed to have transformed into a serpent dwelling in the river’s depths. From her staff a bamboo grove emerged, and from her leftover grains grew wild rice that thrives only at that sacred site. The tale has been preserved through oral tradition, symbolising courage, sacrifice, and harmony with nature. It also reflects the Sangtam community’s deep respect for the land and their ancestral heritage. Today, the story of Thrasipi continues to inspire collective memory, serving as both a cultural treasure and a reminder of the values of resilience and selflessness embedded in Naga folklore.

Format & Duration: 1 mins ,40 secs.
Date of Recording: 8/28/2025
Date of Upload: 14 October 2025
Performer: Mutsandang
Creator: Athing Sangtam
Publisher: Tetso College, Dimapur
Note: NA

Cite this work

Sangtam, Athing    . 2025  . "The Legend of Thrasipi : A Sangtam Folktale"   . ( Narrated by Mutsandang  )  . Sovima: NEIIPA, Tetso College  . (https://neiipa.in/audio/the-legend-of-thrasipi-a-sangtam-folktale/)  . Accessed: (18-Oct-2025)