Kala Akademi condoles demise of Guru Mangi
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, June 16 2022:
Manipur State Kala Akademi condoled the demise of state Pena guru Khangembam Mangi Singh, who passed away on June 15 after prolonged illness.
A release by Akademi secretary L Kishworjit said a two-minute silence was observed for the departed soul as a mark of respect.
Describing the demise of Mangi as great loss for the state, the release also extended solidarity to the bereaved family and prayed for the departed soul to rest in peace.
The Akademi recalled that Mangi was a decorated art personality with several prestigious honours including a Pad mashri, Sangeet Natak Akademi award and Manipur State Kala Akademi.
He was also a popular exponent of Moirang parva and Shumang Leela, it said.
The release also recalled that the Pena guru was the son of Khagembam Tomei, also a renowned Pena player at one point of time.
He learned to play the Pena from his father initially and executed his skills at Lai Haraoba festivals, which sharpened his love for Pena further.
He joined Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy (JNMDA) as an artiste in 1975 and retired as guru of Lai Haraoba.
He was also one of the founder members of Laihui, a cultural organisation established in 1985 to promote research on local traditional and indigenous performing arts, added the release.