People recall Puya Meithaba Day
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 05 2012: Art and culture convenor of International Observation Committee on Puya Meithaba (ICOP), Ningthoujam Chaoba said that people should commemorate the incident of burning ancient Puya in the front of Kangla Utra Shanglen.

Ningthoujam Tomba was speaking at the Black Day observation held in the office of Transporters and Drivers Council located at MG Avenue today.

Organised in connection with the commemoration of 283rd anniversary of burning ancient Puya, Tomba claimed that the Puya Meithaba was the most inauspicious event in the history of Manipur.

Reminding the incident which was happened in the year 1729, Tomba asserted that the burning of Puya instigated the misunderstanding between the valley and hill people.

Following the incident, the perpetrators who were involved in that unfortunate event also renamed the sacred places by using other Indian languages, he added.

He further mentioned that during that time, the burial ritual that once had by the Meiteis was changed to the present tradition of cremation.

Tomba also said that the perpetrators of that time had the intention to spoil all the bases of Meitei rituals and cultures including language and scripts so that the community would remain unnoticed in future.

Member of All Manipur Road Transport Drivers and Motor Workers Union, H Kullachandra said that the commemoration of Puya Meithaba should be observed in every parts of the State so that the younger generation could understand it properly.

Doren Khanganba, advisor of All Manipur Recognised Private School Welfare Association, in his speech, described the 17th century as the most unfortunate century in the history of Manipur.

He said that the people should extend their effort to promote the lost rituals and cultures of the Meiteis.

The Black Day observation was also held at the Ema Keithel of Khwairamban Bazar today.

Being inaugurated on January 2, the six day long observation is organised by ICOP, Meitei National Front in collaboration with All Manipur Recognised Private School Welfare Association.

Meanwhile, students and teachers of six different schools located along the Irabot Road also observed the Black Day by wearing black badges.

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