Puya Meithaba anniversary from Jan 22-24
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 09 2014:
Obituary to departed scholars and eminent personalities, presentation of awards and staging of a play would be highlight of the upcoming 285th anniversary of Puya Meithaba (ancient chronicle) observance, main function of which would be held at Konung Hanjing Meekollok in Heingang, informed International Observation Committee on Puya Meithaba (ICOP) convenor Hamom Dhani Meetei.
Speaking to newspersons at the Wahengbam Leikai office of Pandam (evening daily) today, Dhani said the anniversary observance will symbolically begin from January 22 with students donning black badge.
Prior to the main event at Heingang on january 24, homage would be paid in the morning to departed scholars and prominent individuals who contributed towards preserving historical heritage of Manipur at Kangla Uttra, the site where several copies of Puya were consigned to flame by a Bengali scholar under the patronage of the then ruler of erstwhile independent Manipur.
Puya is considered to contain invaluable information about the origin of Manipur (Kanglei-pak), cultural heritage, social and customary practices.
As a part of the observance function 'Maichou Ningshing Mana' (award) and 'Chingmee-Tam-mee Ningshing Lipun Mana' would be presented to select individuals in honour of their contributions towards enriching the State's cultural heritage as well as promoting the age-old fraternal bond between the hill and valley people, said the convenor.
Later in the afternoon, artistes of Manipur State Shumang leela Council (MS-SLC) will stage a play entitled 'Kangleipak Ta 1709' based on the Puya Meithaba.
Informing that the observance function would be jointly in collaboration with Meetei national Front (MNF), MS-SLC, All Mani-pur Recognised Private School Welfare Association and Hanjing Marjingkol Pakhangba Laisna Kanba Lup, Dhani conveyed that Puya Meithaba anniversary observances used to be organised by MNF since 1978 .
From 2012 onward the observance is being organised by ICOP, he added.