Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 24:
People of Manipur origin who are presently settled at Nan-daose village of Myanmar�s Mandalay region are still preserving the Meitei religious traditions, according to the advisor of Indo-Myanmar Fraternal Alliance Mutua Bahadur.
Speaking to news-persons at the office of Mutua Museum, Keisampat the advisor recounted the recent visit of 36 Manipuris to Mandalay region, and added that the socio-economic conditions of Manipuris settled at Nandaose region have improved to a great extent.
The Manipuris scattered around Mandalay region were taken captives when the then Awa soldiers raided the kingdom of Manipur that also resulted in the seven Years Devastation.
The tour held from September 18 till 23 was organised by Alliance� unit Indo-Myanmar Fraternal Tourist Centre.
Even though most of the Manipur-origin people there have embraced Buddhism, Meitei deities of Nongpok Ningthou and panthoibi are tucked inside an old temple building fearing reprisal from the Myanmar Government, conveyed Bahadur.
He also informed that around fifty thousand manipur-origin people are following Buddhism while there are over seven thousand who still follow the Meitei-Hindu religion.
Due to the social stigma attached to the then war captives and fear of the Meitei people losing their identity a number of individuals in their 70s did not marry, he said.
Another Alliance advisor RK Shivchandra narrated that manipur-origin people have even occupied prestigious positions in the Myanmar society with one acting as head of department in Mandalay�s Malaria Hospital and another serving as a Lecturer in Myanmar University.
The two advisors also stated that the women folks of Amarpur (Myanmar) are heavily dependent on muga weaving as main source of income with the handloom product like Achet Phanek being favoured by the Myanmarese women during festive occasions.
During the course of the visit some Myanmar authorities expressed strong desire to improve the border trade volume, they maintained while informing persons willing to undertake similar visit to obtain details from the Kwakeithel Laishram Leikai office of Indo-Myanmar Fraternal Tourist Centre.