TNWL decries misrepresentation of Tangkhul Nurabi
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang
Ukhrul, May 20 2022:
Tangkhul Naga Wungnao Long (TNWL) has decried the vulgar portrayal of Tangkhul Nurabi during Lai Haraoba, calling it as a great disrespect to the culture of Tangkhul community.
"We respect the belief systems of every community and any civilised society is expected to be tolerant.
However, in a recently concluded Lai Haraoba, portraying of the ritual of Tangkhul Nurabi/Loutaba was distasteful," TNWL president SA Ramnganing stated in a statement issued on Friday.
He said that the ritual event has painted the Tangkhul community in a very poor light, adding that representing such vulgarity as entertainment and art form is condemnable.
As indigenous people, the Tangkhul community has a rich and beautiful culture with highly developed customary norms, laws and practices, he said.
"Moreover, our textile is not just a piece of cloth.
It carries stories and has meanings, significance, contexts and usages.
Wearing our traditional attire and performing the most disrespectful and vulgar act removed from such meanings and significance is unacceptable and is an insult to our identity and history," Ramnganing said.
It is important to be mindful of the nuances of culture, knowledge system and value system of other communities, when presented in any form, rituals, lest we are compelled to take legal recourse, he added.