Forest Minister inaugurates 1st Lori-Ham festival, assures pottery store at Imphal
Source: The Sangai Express

Ukhrul, January 29 2018: Forest and Environment Minister Th Shyamkumar inaugurated the 1st Lori-Ham ( Nungbi black pottery) festival at Nungbi Khullen village ground, Ukhrul and further assured to sanction Rs 30 lakh for development of Nungbi Khullen and Khonou villages.

With a view to motivate and encourage all State's artisans to improve their financial status, Th Shyamkumar, who attended the event as chief guest, assured to allot a separate store at Imphal for villages of Nungbi Khullen and Khonou to conduct their pottery business.

The visiting Minister further promised to reserve Rs 30 lakh from the Department of Forest and Environment for development of the two villages.

Earlier, before the inauguration function Th Shyamkumar unveiled the monument of the 1st Lori-Ham festival in the presence Ukhrul Autonomous District Council (UADC) Chairman Dickson Kumrah, ADC members, village headman A S Shaingam, VAs and the villagers.

The Forest and Environment Minister Th Shyamkumar was warmly received at the village ground, reports our correspondent.

Nungbi pots can be considered as an antique and are highly demanded in he market as food prepared/cooked in a Nungbi pot give better palatable taste than food cooked in other utensils.

Later, the Minister inspected the pottery stalls set up for the festival and assured to extend all possible aid from the Government.

While visitors of the festival were impressed with the lavishly served, locally brewed rice beer, "khor" with pork meat of Nungbi village.

The day was marked with vibrant displayed of folk dance, demonstration of Lori-Ham making and a song from local artist, Ngathingpam Tangvah.

As part of the festival, a cycle rally from Ukhrul to Nungbi Khullen was taken out by MAAMBA members.

Lori-Ham festival was celebrated under the theme, "Celebrating life, preserving culture and promoting craft" .

According to reports from Nungbi Khullen, three village craftsmen are National Pottery Awardees namely K Homi, K Mahai and T Tuisem while three others were State awardees for clay pot making.

The pottery products of Nungbi village comprised of cooking pot, mug, plates, vase, decorative items and varieties of kitchen wares.

The clay pots were sold at the range of Rs 75 to Rs 5000 depending on the size and quality.

It can be mentioned that Nungbi village is about 40 kilometres away from Ukhrul town.

UADC Chairman, Dickson Kumrah attended the event as the guest of honour while headmen of the neighbouring villages, BJP president Ukhrul District, Thotthing Kashung were also present.

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