Situated about 4km away from the National Highway with 630 houses and over 3000 population, the Tashar Village Authority submitted a memorandum addressed to Chief Minister N Biren Singh requesting for construction of Village Authority Office cum Guest House, construction of Primary Health Sub-Center with essential facilities for ensuring that people receive comprehensive health care ranging from illness to maintenance of good health…
TFM Ukhrul Correspondent
Tashar Luira Phanit 2023 kickstarted on Sunday at Tashar Village Office Compound under the theme “Strengthening Fraternal Ties.” Education Minister, Th. Basanta Kumar attended the opening ceremony as Chief Guest and MLA of 44-Ukhrul Assembly Constituency, Ram Muivah as the guest of honour. The villagers of Tashar gave a colorful and rousing welcome to the two dignitaries and visitors.
Speaking at the ocassion, Th Basanta Kumar lauded the organizer for aptly choosing the theme of Luira Phanit “Strengthening Fraternal Ties” and quoted the saying, “You can change your friends, but you cannot change your neighbours”, it is time for the various communities in Manipur to live as one and strive as one people.
He stressed the need to have a good road connectivity and urged the gathering to plant more trees to tackle the problems of water scarcity being faced by the people of Manipur as a whole.
Education Minister also appealed the gathering to take the “War On Drugs” campaign seriously and fight the menace of drugs together for a better Manipur. He added, “Let us all become warriors on drug campaigns headed by CM N. Biren Singh. Let us save our society from drug menace.”
Th Basanta Kumar also called for formulating a proper system to regulate the sale and consumption of alcohol so that people can consume the best alcohol at an affordable rate and not an adulterated one. He stated, “in the first half of the 20th century, many countries banned the sale and consumption of alcohol. The prohibition failed, bootlegging became widespread and organized crime took control of the distribution of alcohol.”
Education Minister promised to set up an examination center at Tashar in the coming year. He also unveiled the foundation stone of “Tashar Village Authority Office cum Development Centre” in the presence of MLA Ram Muivah and AS. Shinmi, Awunga of Tashar Village.
Ram Muivah expressed immense gratitude to the villagers for inviting him to attend the celebration as a guest of honour. He stated, “since we are farners who depend on agricultural works, by practice since old age, it is the duty of Village Chief to do the necessary ritual and invoke the blessing of the creator and only after the blessing is invoked by the Village Chief, the villagers can go to their field and sow seeds for a bountiful harvest. In the context of the Tangkhul community, Luira Phanit is not only a seed sowing festival, but it is also a new year. Tug of war, wrestling and Laa Khanganui (maiden dance) are part of the activities of Luira Phanit.
“In the West, they have a beauty pageant contest, but in our place, we have the “Laa Khanganui” (maiden dance). In the Laa Khanganui, the beauty queen of the village is being selected and it is still being practiced and performed today at Hunphun and Hunpung Luira Phanit. The unmarried youths gathered in the house of the girl who was declared the most beautiful maiden through Laa Khanganui to celebrate Yarra (festival of youth) in the month of April. The other important festival is “Mangkhap Phanit” a festival celebrated right after paddy transplantation. Then come the post harvest festival known as “Chumphu Phanit”. Before the bountiful harvest is being stored at the granary, the women folk would perform certain rituals and clean the granary and the men folk would go to the field or forest for fishig, hunting and trapping birds and animals. We need to revive this post harvest festival and celebrate in a grand manner. We have another festival called “Thisham”, a festival to honour the death. We have a rich and vibrant culture and we need to preserve and promote them in the best way.”
Ram Muivah wishes the gathering a bountiful year filled with happiness and prosperity. “Water scarcity problems is being faced by most of the Tangkhul village. I am trying my best to solve the problems through your support and concern. Let us all work together to get enough and ample supply of drinking water in the days to come, ” concluded Ram Muivah.
Situated about 4km away from the National Highway with 630 houses and over 3000 population, the Tashar Village Authority submitted a memorandum addressed to Chief Minister of Manipur N. Biren Singh requesting for construction of Village Authority Office cum Guest House, construction of Primary Health Sub-Center with essential facilities for ensuring that people receive comprehensive health care ranging from illness to maintenance of good health and construction of Multi Purpose Community Hall.
The celebration was also attended by President of Tangkhul Naga Wungano Long, SA. Ramnganing, Director R&DM, KH. Leiyaphy Rita, DFO Kamjong, SW. Suisa, Special Contractor AS. Khathing, among others. The superb performance by Wung Hira and AS. Weapon, special number presentation by students of Tushen Government High School, body building physique show, folk song and folk dance presentation by Tashar Katamnao Long and haolaa and tarung khangava by village elders added more colours to the celebration. The festival will wind up on 7 March 2023.