Laishram Ranbir
When the people of the state are coming out of streets demanding the implementation of a regulation to protect the indigenous identity of communities in the state, some Lai Haraoba Committees are trying to twist the rituals of Lai Haraoba away from the established norms and format.
In one such incident, some youths of Nambol Chingmang area participated yesterday’s Lai Lamthokpa during the ongoing Nambol Khoiriphaba Lai Haraoba by donning costumes resembling clowns and western musical instruments which are not relevant with the traditional costumes of Lai Haraoba and its rituals. Apart from it, the youths are seen dancing to the tune of western musical instruments.
Reacting to the bizarre dresses and musical instruments that were used by the youths of the area, Convenor of Umang Lai Kanba Apunba Lup (UKAL), Mutum Manitomba, said that the body had already warned the Lai Haraoba Committee of Nambol Khoiriphaba for violating the dress code and ritual activities in previous years on various counts. There has been an agreement between the Lai Committee and UKAL in this regard.
However, repeating the same mistakes of breaking the year old guidelines and norms of celebrating the most important festival of Meetei/Meitei cult again this year is highly condemnable, said the Convenor.
He also said that Nambol Khoiriphaba is one of the sacred places of Meitei/Meetei cult and breaking the year old tradition of celebrating the festival in such an important holy place is unfortunate and if such is done at Nambol Khoiriphaba Lai Haraoba what will be the situation at other places?
While appealing to all the Committees of Laiphams, the Convenor said that UKAL will convene a meeting with members of the Lai Committee and discuss the future course of actions that has to be taken up in this regard.
