IT News
Imphal, April 17 :
The Two Day Thingyan, 2021 organised by the Centre for Myanmar Studies, Manipur University has been concluded today with a Burmese song sung by Arbin Soibam, a renowned singer of Manipur. Thingyan, commonly referred to as water festival is a festival celebrated across Myanmar as a New Year’s Day celebration. During the festival multiple events has been exhibited which included Ngamu Thaba, Burmese Cuisines, Burmese Costumes, Photo exhibition, Talk show and Cultural dance of Myanmar and Manipur performed by the students of Manipur University. During the festival the Centre invited children in and around the campus of the University and offered sweets and Burmese Cuisines. In the festival, the Centre encouraged planting of Papaya (Awathabi) as a symbol of bonding between Myanmar and Manipur. Students and Teachers of the University took part during the festival and coincidentally many tourists have also taken part in the Thingyan 2021.
Four main speakers were invited by the Centre to give special talk during the festival. On the first day of the festival, Prof.T.Tampha Devi, Head, Department of Manipuri, MU spoke on the topic Ngamu Thaba and Associate Professor Ch. Rajketan, Department of Manipuri, MU gave his presentation on the Historical Relation between Manipur- Burma Relation. On the second day, Sh. Shamu, President, Indo-Myanmar Association gave his talk on the Historical Genesis of Thingyan and Dr. P. Milan Khangemcha, Department of Philosophy, MU spoke on the Theme of Water from the Buddhist Point of View.
The first day kicks off at the Manipur University with the sprinkling of water with Thabyay by releasing fishes (Ngamu) at the Canchi Park, Manipur University. Further, The Chief Guest by way of watering at the Awathabi (papaya) plant at the Amphitheatre, Centenary Hal! of the University Inaugurated the function. Prof. Prof. S. Sanatombi Slngha, the Vice Chancellor (i/c) of Manipur University expressed the need for a comparative research work on the cultural similarities between Myanmar and North east india in general and Manipur in particular through folklore in order to understand the land and the people of this region . She further highlight the inner ethos of Thingyan the art of purification of cleaning away the sins and sorrow in order to start a fresh life. She also mentioned the spirit of respecting the elders during the festival.
Prof W Chandbabu registrar, who was the Guest of Honour of the function, stressed the importance and role of the centre for Myanmar Manipur University at the global scenario. He expressed that the centreneed to be strengthened and should take a major share in the capacity building of the people of this region.
Dr L Bishwanath Sharma the Dean of the students welfare Manipur University who acted as the president of the function also expressed in the line with the above dignitaries that the centre need strengthened and more activities done. He appreciated the kind of engaging by the centre from the classroom teaching to the MU community domain through cultural medium in order to know a country in per excellent.
Prof Mc Arun Director Centre for Myanmar studies gave the welcome address of the function and expressed the Thingyan 2021 is a part of academic engagement of the students of the centre in order to inculcate the cultural life of the Myanmar peoples.
