Saving Lengvei, the dying giant
Source: The Sangai Express

Phalee (Ukhrul), November 22 2011: Sowing, planting, weeding and finally harvesting comes which again is a time of abundance and celebration by show of strength under the yoke of the giant paddy load in the picturesque Phalee village, formerly known as 'Phadang' in western Ukhrul district.

The tradition of carrying Lengvei (giant load) during harvest time comes to the fore reminiscing the nostalgic past during the harvest of A Khayaising, Phalee village headman's field on November 10 last.

Carrying Giant Load (Lengvei Kaphung) is a popular age-old practice among the Tangkhul Nagas during harvest time.

This is a platform for menfolk to test strength or for that matter a tactical way to establish suzerainty over fellow colleagues without violence and bloodshed.

Lengvei Kaphung is a challenge for all men of the village and every challenger carried home more than 300 kgs or 3 quintals of paddy home tightly pack in shawls from the field which is about 4-5 kms.

Whatever a man harvested on the day, he carried it home with his fianc�e following behind him and offering rice beer at every onra (resting place).

Those men-folk who are not taking part in the competition pack and bind the paddy in shawls with ropes called shairah.

As the giant load carriers walk steadily with a sturdy walking stick to balance their steps, the helpers would pull the yoke in a rhythmic manner so as to enable the carriers walk on the uneven surface.

They also help the carrier to load the giant load on his back or unload whenever he needs rest.

Others would follow ho-ho-ing with the girls carrying rice beer in baskets.

In this manner, they would carry it home late in the evening where the carriers are served soups and plenty of meat to recoup.

After the feasting, singing folksongs followed and continued till late at night.

The competition has no prize for winner.

The traditional practice is only to find out the strongest man in the village as the world belongs to the strong people then.

As a matter of fact, the strongest gets the most beautiful woman.

Earlier, the tradition was practiced in most Tangkhul villages.

This practice continued till late 1960s .

However, Phalee village is keeping the culture alive intermittently when its perennial paddy fields are harvest till today.

"The agrarian cycle of life has been drastically intervened by modern education.

The outlook of the people towards life has taken a new turn; many unique cultural and traditional practices of the forefathers have lost importance, discarded or forgotten.

Giant load carrying culture is one of them," said Rn Yangshi, a retired Headmaster of Phalee High School.

"The feat is basically hosted by rich people when their fields are harvested and domesticated animals like cows, pigs or fowls, dogs, etc are killed.

This is an expensive affair.

This is one reason why people have discarded the culture," opined Phalee village headman A Khayaising.

Mention may be made here that Phalee village is situated on a scenic hill about 24 kms west of Ukhrul town and about 90 kms northeast from Imphal city.

As per 2011 census, the total number of households in the village is 789 and a total population of 3714 .

Till today, the village follows a quasi monarchical system of governance as the people still pay obeisance to the living 'king' of Phalee, A Khayaising.

"The 'Pettigrew impact' during the 1910s has brought about tremendous changes in aspects of religion and education and ushering in a new outlook to life, paving the way to global thinking and changed attitude towards life," a retired school teacher, A Ningkhalem said.

The conflict in question is that there has been lapses in rules and the intensity of the strength is fast declining with decreasing level of participation in the traditional challenge of strength.

Again, with many older people having knowledge about the art of weaving of shairah and shairei (yokes woven out of fine bamboo materials which are used to bind and carry the load) no more, there are big possibilities that the unique practice would disappear very soon with the passage of time.

"We spent about Rs 1 lakh to host this event, whereas the produce (harvest) in our field is only about 250 mustard tins.

How can we host this event every year? We can't afford to do that for the sake of preserving culture or tradition," quipped A Ningreiwon, wife of the village headman.

However, the dying giant can be saved.

How? If only the state government intervenes.

"There is Orange Festival, Lemon Festival, Sangai Festival and so on, all in State level.

We can still have a Lengvei Festival if the State Government has a will to save the Dying Giant," opined Rinmayai Jagoi.

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