Umang Lai Haraoba losing its relevance to nature Featured
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, June 07, 2013:
The traditional festival of Umang Lai Haraoba basically connotes the inevitable relationship between men and the nature.
The Umang Laibung (sacred ground) is often regarded as a "miniature forest" with green leafy trees such as banyan and mango grown all around.
However, with the passage of time, such a natural image of Umang Laibung is seen nowhere.
Now, community halls have replaced the trees and Umang Lai Haraoba is constantly moving apart from the nature.
Many cultural experts are of the view that construction of community halls at Umang Laibung without any plant or flower around decreases the significance of Umang Lai Haraoba.
It is not just about the traditional values; Lai Haraoba also promotes preservation of the natural environment.
The songs of Maibas and Maibis (Shamans) are often tributes to Mother Nature.
But, the present day Lai Haraoba is a complete deviation from the Nature�s path.
A prominent priest of Uttra Shanglen of the Royal Palace, Potsangbam Kondumba told Hueiyen Lanpao that it is a must to have some banyan and mango trees around Umang Laibung.
The trees not only add charm to Umang Lai (local deities), but also help in regulating the climatic condition.
The construction of community halls at the sacred grounds by uprooting trees gives less significance to Lai Haraoba and it depicts men�s departure from the Nature�s path, he noted.
Kondumba further maintained that men plant trees with the belief that they would protect mankind from all kinds of adversities.
Demolition of natural image of Umang Laibung is akin to disregarding the Mother Nature, he added.
A member of Umang Lai Kanba Apunba Lup (UKAL), Mutum Maniton said that there are about 723 Laibungs in the State.
Most of them have community halls with no trees around.
Lai Haraoba in these grounds has become so unnatural and insignificant.
UKAL would also start campaign for tree plantations at various Laibung and revive the age-old tradition of Umang Lai Haraoba, he averred.
Prof N Rajmohon of Department of Chemistry, Manipur University said that the myth forbidding felling of trees grown at Laibung may be correct in scientific terms for the conservation of natural environment.
The relation between men and the nature cannot be dismissed even if there is rapid development in science and technology.
The age-old tradition of Umang Lai Haraoba must be revived in the present age with the objective of imparting a lesson of environment conservation to the general masses, he exhorted.
It is high time for all to revive the traditional Umang Lai Haraoba by ways of planting trees.
This must also impart a valuable lesson of environment conservation to the general masses.