Indigenous games of Manipur

Kang Shanaba is an indigenous Manipuri game played on the day between Manipur's New Year's Day and the Ratha Jatra festival. There are tales, both legendary and mythological, that claim that Kang was played by gods and goddesses, soon after the earth was created. The simple version is that kang literally means, a round object, hence pushing or throwing it, is called Kang Shanaba. Kang is the seed of a creeper, which was the original object of play, which was later substituted by a kang made of lac. At present, the kang is an oval object made of lac or lead with a spot of ivory in the middle, the shape and size of which are now laid down in the book of rules. The target, too, has been standardised and has to adhere to a certain shape, size and weight. How the game is to be played Manipuris believe that the Kang playing - field represents the ' Field of Life '. The seven players on either side, represent the seven days of the week. The chekphei and lamt...

The art of thang ta has basically two type in the form of training :    1. THANGKAIROL - The Art of Sword Fighting:  This form of training is not for actual combat but to safeguard the tradition and art of thang ta. They are mainly for demonstration. Physical Characteristics in Customary Usage and Ritual Practice 1.Khurumba (the bow) - where the forward/downward flexion of the relaxed spine is used. 2.Tha Leiba -Rotation and tilts of the pelvic joint in different angles while supporting the torso in regular curvilinear uses are most common. The half turn of the chest are also common. 3. Thong khong (bridge support) - The squat is also a familiar use of the lowering of the upper extremities nearer to the ground, where the two legs in deep bent position support the whole body, thereby proximally utilizing the use of the upper extremities at the ground level. Men use three positions of squat in a descending order to enable the firmer hold of th...

  Thang- Ta is a part of Huyen langlon, is a martial art from Manipur. In the Meitei language, huyen means war while langlon or langlong can mean knowledge or art. The art developed from the war environment of the present state Manipur, which was an independent kingdom for more than 2000 years. It played an important role in the geopolitical environment of medieval times in between India and China with many independent states at war with each other. Constant life and death struggles between clans, tribes and states resulted in the devising of ways and means of safeguarding the lives of the citizen soldierly and at the same time developing an inward attitude to problems of life, death and afterlife. Literally thang ta means sword and spear, and these are the most important weapon of this martial arts.      Thang-Ta has been used by the Meeteis for thousands of years to defend their Kingdom against many foreign invaders & lastly the British in the Kho...

   Oo-laobi or  Woolaobi is a traditional game of Manipur. The game is mainly play by the female. Meitei mythology believe that Umang Lai Heloi Taret (Seven dieties sisters) play this game on the Courtyard of the temple of UMANG LAI LAIREMBI. Number of the participants were not fixed but divided the participants into two groups ( size now as per agreement). Players are divided as:- (1) Raiders (Attackers) (2) Defenders  Action of raider Say "woo" without stopping as long as they can continue and try to touch the defender. If a raider touches an defender is out.This process goes on till defenders are out or surrender. If a raider fails to say "woo" or out of breadth, Raider is out. Points are counted on the elimination of Raiders/Defenders. If Raiders are tired they declare for change. Now time limit is decided for change. The outline    principles of Woo-Laobi is very much similar to that of Kabaddi in India. The ground (c...

  H iyang Tannaba is a traditional boat race of Manipur dating back to a few centuries and was originally celebrated during the Manipuri Lunar month of Hiyangei Tha or October-November. The race begins with a ritualistic ceremony to Lord Sanamahi, the ruling deity of every Manipuri household, praying for safety and protection.                             Manipuri ancient folklore dates back the beginning of this race to Manipuri King Luwang Ningthou Punshiba who is said to have crafted the first boat in this ancient land. He had two craftsmen namely Wangmanao Sinmeiba and Nungban Wangmitkhu Khuteiba. Over the time the “hi” or the canoe slowly developed into that of the “hiyang” or the long boat sometimes almost 70 feet in length. It was believed that in the later period during the reign of King Hiyangloi Ningthou, it became a sport and a source of entertainment when after a successful hunt he called...

Yubi lakpi is a traditional game of Manipur and literal meaning of the game is "coconut snatching". It has some prominent similarities to the game rugby.   The game is traditionally associated with autochthonous forms of Hinduism. It began as a ceremonial re-enactment of the snatching of the pot of nectar after the Samundra Manthan. An official game is held on the occasion of the Yaoshang Festival of Shri Shri Govindajee at palace ground and with Royal presence.       The ultimate goal of yubi lakpi is to present the coconut to the King. In modern times, a 'King' is selected to receive the offering. Nowadays the "King" is often a teacher, or official. Before the starting the game, players rub their bodies with mustard oil and water to make slippery to catch each other. A coconut properly soaked with oil is place in front of the chief guest of the function, known as the "King", who does not take part in the game itself. Players a...

   Mukna is an indigenous way of wrestling played between the male rivals to test the strength and the physical abilities of the wrestlers. The game bears similar resemblance with the Pehlwani the Indian style of wrestling popular in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh and the Sumo wrestling of Japan. According to Meitei mythology Mukna, when Pakhangba, the son of the Atiya Guru Shidaba(Supreme God of Meitei), caught his irate brother, Sanamahi who was the incarnation of a horse, causing chaos and confusion in the kingdom. Sanamahi was furious with his father, for naming Pakhangba as his successor. Pakhangba trapped his brother at the end of a long and bitter encounter, when he used a deadly grip that rendered Sanamahi powerless. This paved way for the birth of Mukna. In Moirang Kangleirol( ancient history of Moirang) also Mukna was considered one of the most famous sport of that time.     This sport really flourished during the reign of King Khagemba (1597-...

  Mukna Kangjei is a game which combines the arts of mukna( a form of Manipuri traditional wrestling) and Kangjei (cane stick). It is akin to modern day hockey and Manipuris have been playing it from time immemorial. This game is also known as khong kangjei or sometimes kangjei. The name is derived from the Meitei terms khōng (foot), kāng (ball or round object), and jei, which is derived from the term chei (stick).   The origin of the game goes back well to Aniconic worship. People celebrate 'Lai Haraoba' (festival to please traditional deities) and include this item to mark the end of the festival. And Khagemba Ningthou (King) (1597-1652) patronised this game. Nowadays the game is organised in the villages. Presently, associations are formed in Panas (club or team) with rules and regulations of Mukna Kangjei. . The rules for the game is known as Kangjei lon.   The game is played in an open ground by two teams each consisting of seven players. All p...

The longer part of the kangjei(stick) is made from cane and the lower part use to hit the ball is made from wood mainly by Uyung( a local tree). And the ball(kangdrum) is made from bamboo root( Maribok, Utang,Unal and Saneibi). Now the ball are also made from plastic.   Sagol Kangjei is play in an open rectangular field which is suitable for horse ride. And goal lines determine the end of the two boundaries of the rectangular field.   A goal is scored by a team when the ball crosses the terminal line on the other side i.e. the line on the width of the field. While playing players can pick up the ball with bare hand but need to hit the ball by stick at end of the finishing line to score goal. Each player in Sagol Kangjei assumes a specific position on the field. a) Pun - Ngak ( Full back ) b) Pun - Ngakchun ( Half back ) c) Pulluk ( Left wing ) d) Langjei ( Centre ) e) Pulluk ( Right wing ) f) Pun Jen ( Inner ) g) Pun - Jenchun ( I...

 Sagol Kangjei   Sagol Kangjei is an indigenous game of Manipur. This game of horse and stick is played by Manipuri since time immemorial. According to Meitei mythology the game is a ritual game initiated by "Lord Marjing". And according to Kangjeirol Puya, an ancient written record of Sagol kangjei, the game is introduced to the people for the first time by Ningthou(king) Kangba(1405-1359 B.C) of the then Meitei kingdom. So the stick use in the game is term as Kang-chei(kang-jei) and ball as Kang-droom after his name.   Till 1 st century AD the game has no specific number of players. King Nongda Lairen Pakhangba(33-153 AD) introduce the Pana system for the game in which every Pana(team) has 7 players. It is believe that the first game of pana system are played by (a) marjing (b) Khamlangba (c) Trumningthou (d) Ikopningthou (e) Trongningthou (f) Nongshaba (g) Panthoibi played on one side and (a) Thangjing (b) Khoriphaba (c) Wangbrel (d) Yangoiningthou (e) Nam...