Poumais celebrate paddy transplantation festival
Source: Chronicle News Service
Senapati, May 10 2022:
Poumai Naga's Purul Paoki 2022 or traditional paddy transplantation festival was celebrated at Purul (Hiimai) village in Senapati district on Tuesday.
Earlier on Monday, a traditional wrestling competition was organised at the village as part of the festival.
Purul is predominantly inhabited by Poumai Naga tribe.
The Purul Paoki is celebrated every year during the early week of May (Khana Khou - traditional name of the month) for 3 days.
The first day of the festival is marked by butchering/preparing meat of various animals and fish, and the second day consists of uprooting and gathering of paddy Saplings from dry field which had been sown for more than a month back.
In the evening of the second day, traditional wrestling competition takes place with male youths from different villages competing with the host youths.
If the wrestlers are many, the game will continue till early next morning.
Prizes are given out to the best three based on the number of their wins during the competition.
The main event of the festival was held on the third day with both young and old going to the field for plantation where young ladies present would invite the visiting young lads to assist in the plantation.
The most interesting part of the plantation is to know each other and strike up a friendship with one another.
The wrestling event of the festival was held with by W Ibohal Singh, director Tourism, as chief guest with Dr Harikumar, chancellor Manipur International University, and S Lunguiba Thangal, SDO Purul, as special guests.
During his speech, W Ibohal Singh recalled his stint at Senapati DC Office in 1999 and his attachment with the people of the district since then.
The chief guest called Purul a blessed village and exhorted the villagers to preserve the natural gift in the village.
During his last visit to the village in 1999, Ibohal had reportedly suggested adoption of 'homestay' to attract more tourists.
The tourism director reiterated adoption of such model to create an economy that works for the village while assuring villagers to provide materials needed to promote tourism at Purul.
Purul is said to be the most potential village for agro tourism in the state and the director described 'Paoki' festival as very unique.
With an aim to promote such agro tourism, the tourism department reportedly allocates an amount of Rs 2 lakh every year to the organising committee of the festival.
The indigenous Naga wrestling championship during the Purul (Hiimai) Paoki 2022 was held in memory of LH Ngaopunii Sheerou, a veteran wrestler and umpire of the indigenous game.
The late leader was reported to be an official referee of Senapati District Open Wrestling Championship on many occasions.
Prizes of the championship were donated by near and dear ones of Ngaopunii for this year.
The wrestling champion, Th Rahavei of Purul Atongba walked away with Rs 20,000 with a trophy, runner-up S Pazii of Purul Akutpa received Rs 15,000 with a trophy, and third-placed Dasou of Tunggam, Senapati was given Rs 10,000 with a trophy.
On the other hands Thaovei of Purul Akutpa, Sholyavei of Khajkho, Saranamai, Pouveishe of Sajanamai, Th Sazho of Purul Atongba and Dovei of Purul Akutpa were presented Rs 2000 each as consolation prize.
Other high-ranking government officials and film actors from Imphal also attended the festival.
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