The Great Sangai Festival
(sans Sangai The Dancing Deer)

Aheibam Koireng / Hanjabam Shukhdeba *

Sangai : The endemic, rare and endangered Manipur Brow-antlered deer in February 2009

The Manipur 'Sangai Tourism Festival', 2013 or 2014 were historic not for any exemplary success of anything connected with 'Sangai', the majestic, brow-antlered deer, whose name has been surreptitiously used by the GOM. It was historic for a totally ridiculous, though elaborate, a dubious attempt to display the mesmerizing dance format of Sangai by a kind of jumping or floating petite girl, with her head crowned with an 'antlered-look-unlike' brow.

Nothing could be more sullen and subdued to the portray of the poor 'sangai', known for its rhythmtic, gracious dancing-like flow, if only one could feel or read the surging sentiments of this world famous rare species, frozen as they are, by this amplified but crude joke.

Can't we manage a life-size statue of a couple of 'Sangais', at the main entrance of the so-called Sangai Festival, at a time when the State Tourism Department has taken full advantage of this critically endangered species? A life- size Sangai with one or two companions adorned with a calf, in the midst of an improvised floating phumdi would lit up the meaning of a true Sangai Festival and would amount to some little justice to this endangered breed.

It can be suitably backed by real photographs of a herd however insignificant the number may be and however old it could be. The photo of a herd of about 4 Sangais taken in February, 2009, (courtesy 'Dancing Deer of the Floating Park: Sangai' an article by Th.Shamungou Singh in the Huyen Lanpao, Nov 23, 2013), which in any way is so eye-catching, reasonably magnified can add spice to the whole ambience.

This photo, rare by any standard where the four-some Sangais looking so gracious, so subtle with their dignified antlers raised high and yet, sporting a shy and alarmed look, aimed directly at you, would be absolutely precious to the visitors. It would be a delight to the eyes, to one and all, especially those coming from outside the state.

The pair of arc-shaped antlers sporting as crown on the head of 'Sangai' with its head, symbolic of an air of a frightened and concerned look combined, appears immensely impressive. A touch up with its natural habitat, the floating morass of vegetation of Keibul Lamjao, the 'phumdi', would add to the glamour of the unique natural setting.

Since the visitors, even from the state, let alone from outside, cannot dream of having a glimpse of a Sangai, live in its habitat, such a statue would be a dream come true. I assure you, there would be mayhem of photo clicks from the mobiles pulled out without much of a thought, kind of spontaneity. The index of pleasant-surprise of the visitors can be gauged by the number of clicks from the several visitors.

In the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi Airport, Guwahati, as one enters the Departure Hall, a rhino with a calf, near life-size, would be conspicuous by its presence, a solid mass of stunning appeal. As one passes by, however hurried he or she may be, he/she couldn't possibly miss the rhino; for one, it is not to be seen around and for the other, the horrifying but appealing personality embodied is something dominating. One couldn't afford but get absorbed unconsciously or otherwise, even for a few seconds, to the formidable-looking animal, accentuated with an appealing elegance and a fascinating toughness rolled into a combine.

Our Sangai is not far behind not for the formidable, masculine-look of a rhino, but for its gentle grace personified with that look, an embodiment of uneasiness and alarm and yet full of tasteful charm. And mind you, it is declared the 'State Animal' since 1989; its name has been used and reused to attract others, almost clandestinely.

Can't the Imphal International Airport which is in any way the first port of arrival of most of the tourists or visitors, be they for the Sangai Festival or otherwise, sport one such a life-size statue of 'Sangai' at the arrival hall to entice a sense of lure and steer a longing for watching this majestic breed live at its very natural habitat, at the first hand? Such an ambience could create a lasting impression of this rare breed even where the tourist would not afford a glimpse of the animal live, a chance, in all probability, the tourist would not be fortunate enough to have.

The Directorate of information and Public relations (DIPR) counter at the airport too can be activated with handouts about this rare breed of deer to be seen nowhere else. Additionally, post-card-size or even bigger size-photos of Sangai with select briefs can be printed for sale at the counter. One can think of such cards, mementoes, carved of wood or some such material that can be displayed to enhance the feel of this rare breed at the exit of the festival.

Such facilities with various kinds of small size mementoes about the state can be thought of. Such arrangements are invariably seen at the end corner of the rounds as one completes the contour heading for the 'Exit', in other countries. Why is Manipur content with being always at variance and that too for the wrong reason?

Lamentably, in all these editions of the high-sounding 'Sangai Festival', no program structured to commemorate the memory of this deer or to raise public awareness of the deplorable living conditions or to create public support for protecting it, has been thought of. And yet, its name and fame have been clandestinely used.

Nothing could be more discourteous and cruder than this solid marginalization of the breed. Of course we are not alone in this diabolical attitude. Our neighboring state Nagaland is not far behind; it too celebrates the 'Hornbill Festival' with great fanfare in the first week of December every year, despite the reality that no hornbill is to be ever noticed in Nagaland, the last piece having been hunted down a decade or so back and no trace of it being seen around. But there is a difference.

While Nagaland has totally lost hornbill, here in our state, we have Sangais, reportedly around 200 of them, living in desperate environment in the Keibul Lamjao National Park (KLNP), if the authorities are to be kept into confidence.

A day-trip to the KLNP, the sole habitat of the dancing deer, as it is lovingly called, would be rewarding. This park relatively a vast stretch of grass, of around 40 sq. km. area of 'phumdies', a mass of spongy collection of water-grass, thickened over the years, in the range of 3 to 6 feet depth, spongy enough for the deer to run around, play, dance, eat, mate and sleep, is the only such formation available in this planet.

Lying on the southern fringe of the Loktak Lake adjoining land mass of thickly populated Keibul village, this floating park has its own sources of peril mainly the poachers though of late, the locals have started feeling for their scarce neighbor. A visit to the natural habitat of Sangai even where they would, in all probability, miss this fugitive deer, would enhance the intrinsic quality and content of the festival.

Why a day trip only, can't we combine this day trip with a night's stay at Shendra, in the midst of Loktak? There are now reasonably good fooding and lodging facilities at Shendra. 5 independent villas or cottages have been added to the few existing suits and rooms at Shendra. These have been upgraded thanks to a PPP mode of running the tourist home. The tourists from outside and even from within would cherish such a sojourn.

A night's stay in the midst of the tranquility of Loktak, would de-stress the visitor's mind and entice a kind of sound sleep which we all had been missing in the traps of modern civilization. The following early morning, sipping a cup of hot tea or coffee, relishing the vast expanse of a serene Loktak, its calmness at its best, following the gentle waves, one after the other, as they dance along as far as the eyes can trace, would be once in a life-time-experience.

For a few more aggressive and adventurous tourists, a night's stay at KLNP, if the rest house is moderately done up, for a lucky-sight or chance-encounter of the elusive Sangai in the wee hours, of the next morning would be wonderful, would remain a dream come true.

The basic question remains if such conducted tours in such areas, unexplored hitherto, be still a matter of impossibility in this Sana Leibak; can't we afford luxury of such a trip, even at this age of modernization? The tourists have a reasonably heavy pocket; won't mind digging it up for a cause that unwinds the battered mind. A legitimate exploration is therefore called for this lack of exploration, given the enormous opportunities that lie ahead.