DESAM rues misrepresentation of 'Phanek Mayeknaiba'
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 16 2021: Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) has condemned the cultural misrepresentation of Meetei's 'Phanek Mayeknaiba' by one designer Priyanka Anna Joseph, who allegedly modified the Phanek into a miniskirt and coat and also converted the 'Rani Phee' into kurta as posted on social media in total disregard of its cultural significance.

In a release, DESAM general secretary Leishangthem Lamyanba Meitei stated that they take this act as a threat and disrespect to our cultural rights and tradition.

Priyanka Anna Joseph has also hurt the sentiments of the Meitei community who regards the Phanek in an auspicious way.

Meetei women wear the Mayek Naiba Phanek only in cultural or formal functions and not as casual wear.

She has converted the Phanek which has a cultural, social and political value into something that disregards and disrespects Meetei culture and represented it in a way that the community never wants to be represented, it asserted.

DESAM continued that though they also appreciate modernisation taken up by different designers of the community and have always supported them, but they cannot support misinterpretation.

The Meeteis always regard the Phaneks as a distinctive sacred thing where there is a belief that a piece of torn Phanek can protect the sons and daughters from evils.

The communities of Meetei and Meitei Pangal also stand proud of the 'Phanek Mayeknaiba' as a distinctive dress code.

The act of Anna Joseph is not acceptable to the community which mocks and disrespects Meetei culture which is a crime and she should apologise publicly, it stated.

DESAM further appealed to everyone not to misinterpret Meetei culture in future and not to hurt the cultural sentiments of other ethnic communities too, while urging the state government to take up necessary action.

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