Tribal folk festival kicks off at Tumuyon Khullen

Tribal folk festival kicks off at Tumuyon Khullen

 From Our Correspondent

KANGPOKPI |Oct 16

With an aim to promote national integration through culture and tradition and to encourage close relationship among different communities with moral and physical integration, a tribal folk festival cum seminar was successfully kicked off today at Tumuyon Khullen in Kangpokpi district.

Sponsored by ministry of culture, government of India, the three-day festival cum seminar organised by the Maram Art & Literature Association (MALA) under the theme, “Tribal Folk Festival for National Integration” was inaugurated by Th. Sanglou, superintendent of taxes, government of Manipur.

Sanglou attended the occasion as chief guest while T. Abraham, general secretary, Maram Union and Sushila Devi, director, Art & Culture, government of Manipur attended as president and guest of honour, respectively.

Various cultural troupe including MALA senior cultural troupe and T. Khullen Baptist Church Women Society presented various cultural dance and choreography during the opening ceremony while various prominent artiste also presented different folk songs.

 “If Art is to be preserved it should be learned, practiced and promoted only then art and its forms will find space in literature”, asserted Th. Shanglou Maram while addressing the occasion. The past practices are valuable but as the traditional practices has some conflict with the doctrines of Christianity it might be hard to retain them in latter and spirit but partial omission and commission might be the justified way, he said.

Further he said said art and culture should not be politicised or become a point of division but it should serve as a bonding element in the society while celebrating the diversity of culture among the tribal.

He was also of the view that adaptation and modification of art and culture is a must for tribal with modern touch while shifting the mind-set from conventional approach.

Abraham stated that much of the dialects of the tribal especially the Marams have lost its originality as a result of synthesis with other languages where Manipuri and English words have unknowingly crept into the dialect which can no longer be removed.

He also said that the preservation and promotion of culture and tradition has to start without any delay else the future generation will lose its identity.

He further emphasised that there is a need to augment the knowledge of ritual and traditional practices which have been carried on from one generation to another.

Speaking to media persons, Th. Thumbu Maram, Chairman MALA said that our beautiful culture, tradition and identity are diminishing by the wave of mix culture since we are unable to explore our identity properly.

He continued that the most valued songs are forgotten, tales are missing and even languages are mixing together which need serious attention.

A social and cultural activist, Th. Thumbu Maram, who is also a recipient of various State award further said that culture is an industry as all types of crafts such as head gears, cultural attires, cane and bamboo products, spears like war instruments, necklace are all cultural base products which need to be protected and preserved.

He appealed everyone to promote their own culture and tradition while promoting peace and integration among all communities in every village so that national integration could be achieved.

Altogether, 16 dance team, six singing team and seven prayer team including one instrumentalist from different villages across Kangpokpi and Senapati districts will participate in the three-day long festival while tribal culture and its importance on various field will be emphasised during the event by various resource persons including Meithuanlungbou Gonmei, acting principal, Mt. Everest College, Benita, curator, State Museum, Manipur and L. Pungding, Asst. Professor, MU.

Tribal folk festival kicks off at Tumuyon Khullen

 From Our Correspondent

KANGPOKPI |Oct 16

With an aim to promote national integration through culture and tradition and to encourage close relationship among different communities with moral and physical integration, a tribal folk festival cum seminar was successfully kicked off today at Tumuyon Khullen in Kangpokpi district.

Sponsored by ministry of culture, government of India, the three-day festival cum seminar organised by the Maram Art & Literature Association (MALA) under the theme, “Tribal Folk Festival for National Integration” was inaugurated by Th. Sanglou, superintendent of taxes, government of Manipur.

Sanglou attended the occasion as chief guest while T. Abraham, general secretary, Maram Union and Sushila Devi, director, Art & Culture, government of Manipur attended as president and guest of honour, respectively.

Various cultural troupe including MALA senior cultural troupe and T. Khullen Baptist Church Women Society presented various cultural dance and choreography during the opening ceremony while various prominent artiste also presented different folk songs.

 “If Art is to be preserved it should be learned, practiced and promoted only then art and its forms will find space in literature”, asserted Th. Shanglou Maram while addressing the occasion. The past practices are valuable but as the traditional practices has some conflict with the doctrines of Christianity it might be hard to retain them in latter and spirit but partial omission and commission might be the justified way, he said.

Further he said said art and culture should not be politicised or become a point of division but it should serve as a bonding element in the society while celebrating the diversity of culture among the tribal.

He was also of the view that adaptation and modification of art and culture is a must for tribal with modern touch while shifting the mind-set from conventional approach.

Abraham stated that much of the dialects of the tribal especially the Marams have lost its originality as a result of synthesis with other languages where Manipuri and English words have unknowingly crept into the dialect which can no longer be removed.

He also said that the preservation and promotion of culture and tradition has to start without any delay else the future generation will lose its identity.

He further emphasised that there is a need to augment the knowledge of ritual and traditional practices which have been carried on from one generation to another.

Speaking to media persons, Th. Thumbu Maram, Chairman MALA said that our beautiful culture, tradition and identity are diminishing by the wave of mix culture since we are unable to explore our identity properly.

He continued that the most valued songs are forgotten, tales are missing and even languages are mixing together which need serious attention.

A social and cultural activist, Th. Thumbu Maram, who is also a recipient of various State award further said that culture is an industry as all types of crafts such as head gears, cultural attires, cane and bamboo products, spears like war instruments, necklace are all cultural base products which need to be protected and preserved.

He appealed everyone to promote their own culture and tradition while promoting peace and integration among all communities in every village so that national integration could be achieved.

Altogether, 16 dance team, six singing team and seven prayer team including one instrumentalist from different villages across Kangpokpi and Senapati districts will participate in the three-day long festival while tribal culture and its importance on various field will be emphasised during the event by various resource persons including Meithuanlungbou Gonmei, acting principal, Mt. Everest College, Benita, curator, State Museum, Manipur and L. Pungding, Asst. Professor, MU.

Read more / Original news source: http://www.ifp.co.in/item/4400-tribal-folk-festival-kicks-off-at-tumuyon-khullen