Shumang Lila on Petanga to be staged at Delhi International Art fest
Source: The Sangai Express / Manipur Info Centre
New Delhi, October 30 2014 :
Peace Maker Artistes' Association, Manipur will stage a Shumang Lila-Nupigee Thamoi scripted by Manaobi MM and directed by the Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee Yumnam Rajen on November 7 at 6 pm at Meghdoot theatre, Copernicus Marg here, during the 6-day long Indian Performances from November 5 to 10, 2014 organised by the Prasiddha Foundation in collaboration with Sangeet Natak Akademi.
The event will be a part of the ongoing 8th Delhi International Arts Festival which commenced from October 28 and would last upto November 28 .
The historical play narrates the love and separation of Prince Naothingkhong and Petanga.
Naothingkhong was the third son of Emperor Urakonthouba of Manipur (568-663AD) .
Naothingkhong, a youth of stubborn character ran away to a far hilly place while his father tried to control his arrogant character and he found Petanga a beautiful charming girl at the foothills who was the only daughter of Shelloi village chief.
Naothingkhong married Petanga under a strict promise that she would be the queen of Manipur whenever Naothingkhong ascend the throne.
In the past time Shelloi was a bitter enemy of Urakhonthouba.
But the secret marriage of Naothingkhong and Petanga was noticed by the Shelloi villagers.
So the Shelloi villagers revolted to kill Naothingkhong.
But Naothingkhong had a narrow escape through a hole in the wall from the house of Petanga as he was a secret concubine of Petanga.
Naothingkhong took asylum under the patronage of Khuman Kwakpa, King of Khuman State.
Naothingkhong got married with two girls namely Keirunghanbi and Leima Namul Khambi, daughter of Kwakpa and Shanarakhawa, King of Moirang State respectively in different situations and under different political affairs.
Petanga was punished by the Shelloi villagers for her immoral character.
But she secretly escaped Shelloi village and ran away to a far off place to save her life.
She was wandering through the bushes day in and night for many months.
She had neither support nor the chance of survival.
She was alone and lamented with tears about the pang of separation from her beloved husband Naothingkhong.
On the other, Naothingkhong learnt the knowledge of political affairs along with other disciplines of education from Luwang Punshiba, who was a great scholar in various subjects.
Information was noticed by Petanga that Naothingkhong was ready to ascend the throne with Keirunghanbi.
Naothingkhong ascended the throne with Keirunghanbi as the queen in 688 AD .
Meanwhile Petanga entered the royal palace to meet King Naothingkhong.
The king pretended not to know her.
Petanga submitted the past promise made by Naothingkhong.
To reckon with the trouble, Naothingkhong told her to be seated on his right side.
On hearing this, she trembled with shock because she would be seated on the left side of her husband Naothingkhong.
She thus did not accept the proposal of Naothingkhong.
Losing no time, Petanga transcended to goddess of Yumjao Lairembi just before the eyes of King.
Many Demi God and Goddess arrived to receive the Goddess.
She pronounced to the king that man has no power to realise true love and man cannot touch the eterntal love of truth.
Suddenly Petanga vanished from the eyes of king with lamented voice.
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