Imphal, February 01 2009: The five-day long residential Thang-ta Training Camp commenced from January 28 last concluded today at Top Dusara Government High School ground, Imphal east today with a concluding function which was graced by Saikhom Nodya Mangang as chief guest.

The camp was organized with the objective of preserving and uplifting the indigenous forms of Tang-ta arts by the Kanglei Indigenous Martial Arts and Cultural Society (KIMACS) .

Expressing concern for the disappearing real concept of the age old norms of the Tang-ta, Nodya Mangang, Tang-ta teacher said that students of this indigenous arts form which are closely related with the life of the people has no more follow.

Keeping behind the ideology of preserving the tradition notion of the arts forms, now students have started giving interest in commercial way of performing the arts by mixing with imported norms from America, Japan, China etc.

The thang is the mother and ta is the father as Meetei philosophy and the forefather protected the freedom of the land from enemies for thousands of year by this arts form, he said.

The present generations fail to know the important of worshipping places of the olden time like the Tikong Laipokhanba at the catchments areas of the Kongba river, Ingourok, Koubru.

Instead of it people are well popular with the Hindus Ganga, Jumuna.

It's due to the lack of deep knowledge of the culture of the society, he said.

Leaders of the state were talked of precious and rich traditional culture of the state in the public gathering areas but they never take up steps for preserving it, he lamented adding that if they truly serious on the disappearing traditional cultures of the land, they should act in accordance with what they are talking about.

The concluding function was attended by state employment labour commissioner, AR Khan as guest of honour, chairman of the Committee for Common Syllabus and Curriculum of Thang-ta Padmashree N Khelchandra as president.

Joint director, arts and culture department, Dr K Sobita and pradhan of Moirangkampu GP, W Diren as also attended as guest of honours.

Joint director, Sobita whle speaking to the gathering said inclusion of Thang-ta in the school syllabus in the great achievement of the people of the state.

If the people try honesty, there could also have a University of the arts form as well as a department in the JN Dance Academy.

She also assured that from the department side, she would try her best to uplift the Thang-ta art form of the state.

KIMACS president Sanahal Mangang said that culture could protect the community.

Any community which could not preserve and show their own culture will never get development, he added.

During the five day residential camp, 215 students of the very art form coming from different parts of the state took part.

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