Mail News Service
\nImphal, Jan 19: Imphal, Manipur, India\/Lexington, Kentucky, USA; January 20, 2012: The Secretariat of Gurbachan Jagat, the Governor of Manipur, and the International Museum of the Horse at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, have announced that a unique gift of traditional Manipuri Polo (Sagol Kangjei) gear has been donated by the Governor to the Museum on behalf of the people of Manipur. The donation was arranged by Dr. R.K.Nimai Singh, Secretary to the Governor and L.Somi Roy, film and media arts Curator, of New York.
\nThe gifts were designed and constructed by Meisnam Khelen of Khurai Thongam Leikai. They include the traditional Manipuri wooden saddle, braided bridle, braided leather whip, a full set of traditional polo player\u2019s attire, two traditional polo mallets and a ball. Mr. Roy made an additional gift of traditional Manipuri darts (arambai) with peacock feathers, also made by Mr. Khelen.
\nThe Governor felt though Manipur is the origin of modern Polo, most of the people do not know this fact and he expressed that this small gift will at least provide a window to the glorious polo tradition of Manipur to the outside world. He expressed his gratitude to the Museum for accepting the gifts for display.
\n\u201cWe are extremely grateful to the Governor and the people of Manipur not only for the significant donation of ethnographic materials related to Manipuri Pony and Polo in Manipur, but also for allowing us to do our small part to raise awareness of these historically significant animals and the current threat of their extinction\u201d said Bill Cooke, Director of the International Museum of the Horse.
\nThe gifts will be displayed in the Museum\u2019s permanent exhibition called the \u201cThe Horse in Sport\u201d. An exploration of the contemporary uses of horse in recreational activities, the exhibition features sections devoted to rodeo, polo, thoroughbred racing, standardbred racing and more. The exhibit was renovated in the summer of 2010 and now features major section devoted to eight disciplines of the World Equestrian Games, which the Kentucky Horse Park hosted in 2010. Manipuri sagol kangjei will be featured alongside English polo, tracing the origins and history of modern polo. Expected to open to the public in the Spring of 2012, the exhibition panel will display Manipuri sagol kangjei and English polo in traditional attire as well as video and photographic displays.
\nIn addition, the Museum will add the Manipuri Pony, or the Meitei Sagol, to its online exhibition \u201cHorse Breeds of the World\u201d and will highlight the breed\u2019s special characteristics, its importance in the region and culture of Manipur and its present endangered condition.\t<\/p>\n\n