THE MUGA CULTURE OF TAI AHOM PEOPLE OF ASSAM,INDIA PART-4

The life cycle of MUGA
Life cycle of the Muga silkworm consist of four Stages- Adult , Egg, Larvae and Pupa.
The duration of life cycle is six to eight weeks depending upon racial characteristics and climate conditions
Egg Is round and white . The weight of newly laid 2000 eggs is 1.0g ,it measures 1-1.3mm in length and 0.9 -1.2mm in width. After 10 days , the eggs hatch into larva. In larval stage there are 5th instar.
In 3 to 4 days 1st instar is complete and larva is moulting and this is called ‘Sai Urua’ or ‘Ek Ulua‘ and after 5 to 6 days 2nd instar is complete and this is called ‘Dui ulua’ and after 6 to 7 days third instar ,8to 9 days 4th instar and 9 to 10 days 5th instar is complete and these stages are called tini ulua , chari ulua and after 5th instar the larva gets maturity.

In summer the Larva takes 21-25 days for Maturation and in Winter it takes 40-55 days for maturation, After maturity the larva wraps itself and becomes Pupa .This is called ‘Leta Bandha ‘.Actually the larva undergoes metamorphosis inside the cocoon and becomes pupa. Pupa is the inactive resting stage of Silkworm. It is a transitional Period. During which definite changes take place.During this period , bio logical activity of Larvel body and its Internal organs undergo a complete change and assume the new form of Adult Moth. In this way the life cycle of Muga is complete .

                                                                                                        MUGA REARING

The above mentioned Kharikas with the headset worms are hanged on the host plants.The larva immediately crawl and start feeding .Farmesrs rear Muga Silkworm in natural Som plantation commonly known as Somani.During the rearing period the rearers restrict entry of prople to the rearing plot as they beleiive that the evil sight of outsider may cause ‘Mukh Laga’ Disease.When the leaves are exhausted, the Larva crawl down and The rearers collected these worms in chalani and again these hanged on a Fresh Tree .They tie Gari Bandh a Barrier on Tree Trunk , to prevent crawling down of Muga Larva during Rearing .After passing through 4 moults, the Larva reached the mature stage .In the final stage , larva becomes ripe.The ripe worms come down the trees naturally in the evening and searching for a suitable place for spinning of cocoon .Then they are collected by rearers and put in baskets containing mango and Azar leaves Dry leaves of Banana, Bhomloti etc., which are set as Jali for the spinning of Cocoons.Spinning takes about 2-3 days in summer and 7 days in winter.

Post cocoon Processing

It includes all processes to obtain silk thread from cocoon

Stifling:
The Process of Killing Pupa inside cocoon iis termed as Stiffling. Good sized cocoon 8-10 days old are selected for further processing. Stiffling is done by subjecting cocoon to hot water, steam, dry heat, sun exposure.

Degumming:
It is the process by which gummy substance is softened and compact filaments are released for reeling.Muga cocoons are degummed by traditional methods .The cocoons loosely tied in cloths are boiled in a 10% sodium solution for 15 to 20 minutes .Cocoon cooking or Boiling is the work to make the cocoon fiber reelable by swelling and softening .After cooking ,fibers ends are collected from boiled cocoons and then several fibers are reeled together by imparting twists (using phutukala pat) .

Reeling of Cocoons

Almost entire reeling is done with a premative machine calld Bhir . The Bhir or Bhowri is the most common process used for Muga Reeling .Muga reeling requires two persons: One person releases the filaments from cocoon while the other twist the filament into one thread and wind it on Bhir  reelers reel in Bhowri with Warm water with 40-45 degree Celsius .After this process the muga yarns becomes Nesa