Puya Meithaba memorial observed
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 09 2018: The International Observation Committee on Puya Mei Thaba (ICOP), Kangleipak commemorated the292ndPuya Meithaba Memorial Day at the Kangla premise and the Iboyaima Sumang Leela Shanglen, Palace Compound today.

Rituals and floral tributes at the Kangla Uttra marked one of the significant parts of the inaugural function and an event was also held at Kangla Heikrumakhong on the burning of puya.

Later, a public meeting was held at the Iboyaima Sumang Leela Shanglen to further deliberate on the observation.

Several dignitaries including titular King Leishemba Sanajaoba attended the function as the chief guest, former Minister and ICOP chairman RV Mingthing as the president and vice chairman of ICOP, Moiranghtem Naodalenkhomba and lifetime president of the MSSLC Ph Gunachandra were present on the dais as the guests of honour.

As part of the observation, the Hills and Valley Relationship Award was presented to noted folk singer Rewben Mashangva who received a cash prize of Rs 25000 and a citation.

The Maichou Memorial Award, which carried a cash prize of Rs 10000 and citation and an innafi, was also handed over to Mangsatabam Ibechaobi.

Speaking on the occasion, Leishemba Sanajaoba informed that puya burning took place during the reign of King Pamheiba who ruled from 1709 to 1748.The puyas were one of the most , definitive knowledge storehouses and those were as well a legacy , of the ancestors.

However all of them were burnt to ashes resulting in a huge loss for the people.

He said, "Such an act is abominable but today, it is more essential that we retrace and reconstruct them piecemeal.

This observation is not against any other community.

It is also no use regretting about the past.

Rather it should provide us an opportunity to come together for the sake of the future." He went on to say no other society should face such a kind of destruction as the burning of puya.

The important thing in the present society is that the incident has brought us together and we should move forward in unison, he added.

While referring to social media, the King said "we should refrain from being communal and hurling abuses at one another in the name of religion.

This can have a detrimental effect." Besides, he also suggested that the Cyber Crime Department of the police should also be wary of this trend.

He added that those issues should then be a thing of the past when people would indulge in driving a wedge between the people in the name of religion or community and that the realisation of love and peace should be our shared vision.

Before concluding his speech, Leishemba Sanajaoba also made an earnest appeal for unity amongst the people ICOP chairman RV Mingthing shared that the day's observation had provided an opportunity to review the endless knowledge that comprises a puya and that one should endeavour to bring all the scriptures back to life.

He said the loss of puya is a loss for the people of Manipur.

As part of the day's event, a drama titled Kangleipakta 1709 was also staged.

Comment