Imphal, January 18: Indigenous elements of the two millennia old State of Manipur inhabited by different ethnic groups are facing gradual disappearance, noted Prof (retired) H Nandiram.

Prof Nandiram was speaking in a one day workshop on the topic "Flower Ritual of Manipur" organised jointly by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts, New Delhi, Manipur Film Development Corporation and People's Museum Kakching at Central Public Hall today.

To preserve the vanishing indigenous elements and culture, people of the State should imbibe thoughts of domestication, Nandiram observed.

He further noted that of the seven sister States of North East India, Manipur is more advanced in many aspects of civilization and it has the richest cultural heritage.

Considering all these advanced aspects of civilization, it can be concluded that the Manipuri society is a developed one.

Asserting that the exploits of the past generations of the land demonstrated their superior advanced stage of civilization, Prof Nandiram observed that every ethnic group of the State have their own unique tradition and culture, architectural styles and rituals.

To preserve and promote all these unique indigenous aspects of life would be an invaluable gift to future generations.

Moreover, it would also go a long way in protecting the identity of the indigenous people, he added.

Addressing the inaugural function of the workshop as chief guest, Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee Laishram Birendrakumar asserted that the history of Manipur bears testimony to the close relationship between human society and flowers.

Home to several indigenous groups, flowers have been associated with every section of the Manipur society in their rites and rituals since time immemorial.

Moreover, each ethnic group has their own unique varieties of flowers, asserted Birendrakumar.

However, due to lack of proper preservation of these rare varieties of flowers, these indigenous flowers are vanishing day by day, he lamented.

It is the responsibility of all the people of the land to preserve all these rare indigenous varieties of flowers, he added.

In the technical session of the workshop, Dr TB Singh presented a paper on the topic Lei, Leirol-Punsirol and M Gourachandra on Leigi Maramda.

Giving key-note address of the workshop, State Coordinator of the Indira Gandhi Centre for Arts Dr K Sobita conveyed fear that the unique identity of the Manipuri people may become blurred if indigenous elements of the land, particularly tradition and culture get lost in the current of time.

Before inauguration of the workshop, chief guest L Birendrakumar opened a flower exhibition there.

The workshop culminated with presentation of Chothe flower ballad by MK Neiyut Chothe, Kharam flower ballad by Jaiche Thangsingchang, Maring flower ballad by DK Komai Maring, Rongmei flower ballad by Poujairui Thaimei, Tarao flower ballad by Lamtajao Tarao, Aimol flower ballad by Darkhumsan Aimol Ngairong and Yumlembam Sabitri and Philem Jati on Manipuri flower ballad.

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