Laikoiching educates Generation X
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 01, 2012:: 'To keep our tradition and culture alive is our religion' is the sermon which Tangkhul elders in Laikoiching village wish to preach to the Generation X. The village which comes under Sadar Hills Sub-Division of Senapati district has been celebrating Tangkhul Art and Culture day on January 31 every year since past 30 years.

Men, women, youths and children congregate at their native village to witness and take part in various traditional items of Tangkhul Naga on this particular day.

This year, the day has been celebrated for two days and the closing function was held today.

"I came down to my native village only to take part the celebration even though my parents are not here", said Warchief Chilhang, a Class IX student of St Anthony School, Shillong.

Like Warchief, many students and village natives, who have gone away for education and jobs, visit Laikoiching during this time of the year to learn the cultural and traditional items of Tangkhul Naga.

Programme moderator of the festival, KT Johnson said, quiz sessions on old Tangkhul dialect are organised for the youths as a part of the celebration.

During night gatherings, elders narrate Tangkhul legends and folk stories to them, he added.

In 1950s, a handful of Tangkhul villagers shifted from Hundung to Laikoiching, 22 kms from Imphal, for settlement.

Now the village has a population of around 900 people with around 140 households of 10 different surnames.

Although, Laikoiching is a small village, preserving its culture has always been its tradition.

This perhaps is the reason why Manipur State Archives organised an exhibition cum awareness programme on various age-old Tangkhul artifacts, dress and household items in October last year.

Deputy Director of Manipur State Archives, Dr K Sushila while delivering her speech as chief guest in the closing function lauded the village for making relentless effort to preserve the culture and tradition of Tangkhul Naga.

Encouraging the villagers to continue the same, she assured to extend full cooperation in this regard.

Dr Sushila also announced that photograph and video footage of the eldest person of the village in traditional attire would be preserved in the State Archives.

Regarding the art and culture festival, village elder, C Mathotmi said that youths have lesser knowledge about Tangkhul tradition and culture and indigenous sports.

And the festival provides an opportunity to educate them on Tangkhul culture, he added.

Competitions on folk songs like, inseinla (sentimental folk song), lasola (introductory song), thingtungla, maala and laohaila (harvesting songs) are held.

While indegenous sports items like moleangra (tug of war), hangphoi (Tangkhul wrestling) and mala kakap (archery) etc are the main attractions of the day sessions.

On the closing day, popular Manipuri singer K Bobin and artistes of Nokphade also took part in the celebration striking the right chord of communal harmony through entertainment.

In this regard, K Bobin said, making alive of culture and tradition is a must to be done by every member of a community, and by inviting people from other communities on such an occasion, Laikoiching villagers have done a good work in bringing communal harmony.

Comment