Tangkhul community in Ukl upholds traditional practice, celebrates Luira Phanit with much pomp and gaiety
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 07 2019:
Luira Phanit, a festival which marks the end of winter season and the beginning of summer invoking the time to sow seeds at the fields for a bountiful harvest, is being celebrated and promoted widely by the present generation of Tangkhul community.
The seed sowing festival which is one of the most prominent and important festival for Tangkhul community showcases the rich culture and traditional practice carried out by the forefathers of the community is delightful to watch.
The festival was organised at the newly constructed Khayaiwo Langakpha ground near Hungpung Ahungshi (also known as Hundung Thawaijao) village on March 4 and 5.When The Sangai Express visited the village to take part in the festival, the chief of Hungpung Ahungshi village dug a portion of soil in the field and sowed some seeds signifying the beginning of the festival.
The villagers then took part in sowing seeds at the field.
The highlights of the festival, "Laa Khanganui" (virgin dance) was showcased in which the girls taking part in the dance wore well-embroidered Phanek and their heads were decorated with colourful head gears and wore armlets and necklace as well.
They performed the dance steps while singing in circular motion while judges from the village selected the most beautiful and graceful girl.
The Luira Beauty title was given to Maryrose Ngachiyo (19) of Hungpung Dungrei village.
She received a cash prize of Rs 25,000 with citation and crown.
Other events including Thingneira Khangakhun (tug-of-war), Khung Ungbi, Shuk shanna langnaba were also held.
Speaking to The Sangai Express, chief of Hungpung Ahungshi village AS Wungayung Peter said that the forefathers have been celebrating the Luira Phanit festival with events which are deep rooted to Tangkhul tribe.
He maintained that the festival was organised to pray to the almightly for a bountiful and healthy harvest.
Maintaining that footprints of the kings of Manipur namely Maharaj Churachand, Bodhachandra, Okendrajit, titular king Leishemba Sanajaoba and former Hungpung Ahungshi chief AS Wungnaoyo Zimik were marked on a memorial stone erected at chief AS Wungayung Peter's frontyard, he added that the footprints signify the bond between the people of the hills and the valley and a mark to portray that all are the sons and daughters of one mother.
Meanwhile, titular king Leishemba Sanajaoba, while taking to The Sangai Express at the golden jubilee celebration Hungpung Ahungshi said that the village is popularly known as Hundung Thawaijao village among the Meiteis, as Leishemba claimed, that the first king/chief of the village was called Thawaijao.
He maintained that the memorial stone was erected in the after a thorough deliberation and in the presence of more than 300 villages, village chiefs and representatives of Yek Salai Taret.
He further stated that Mera Houchongba was first initiated by king Thawaijao adding that a proper sitting arrangement is made whenever the chief of Hungpung Ahungshi is not able to attend Mera Houchongba in the valley.
Leishemba Sanajaoba maintained that the occasion is not complete without the presence of Tangkhul brethens as it portrays the relationship of siblings.
Conveying that the memorial stone tells the origin and bond of the hills and the valley people, he expressed the need to preserve the memorial stone as it has started deteriorating with time.