Imphal, October 05: Even as the strong current of globalisation has been sweeping every nook and cranny of the globe to make it a mono cultured world, the Kharam tribe of Manipur though small in number has been standing firm and tall against the overwhelming invasion of western culture.

The Kharam tribe are proud of the rich culture and tradition including folk dance, folk music , customs which they inherited from their forefathers and even more so for the successful preservation and promotions of their cultural heritage.

Another pride of the Kharam people is the Insak Kharea traditional dance form exclusively performed by women.

According to Waisonai, an exponent of the Insak Khare, this dance form is one of the most beautiful and rhythmic folk dance of the Kharams.

Saying that this dance form was born right after the Kharam people took to settled life, Wasonai remarked that this cultural heritage was handed over from one generation to another and is very much alive today.

She also pledged to preserve and promote this beautiful gift handed over to them by their forefathers for future generations.

Disclosing that Insak Khare is preformed twice in a year after the harvesting of kharif crops and rabi crops, she said that a woman can play the drums for this dance if she is able to.

Both the married women and unmarried maidens can take part in this folk dance.

Kharam tribes settle mostly in Kharam Pallel, Phaimol, Tusenphai, Laikot, Tampak Kharam and New Keithelmanbi.

Till January this year, the total population of Kharam tribe was approximately 1741 only of which women constituted 842. Wasonai of Laikot who has been teaching Insak Khare to young girls maintained that even though the Kharam people were small in number, they should take the responsibility to keep up the cultural legacy and traditional customs of their forefathers for the future generations.

Out of the many cultural heritage inherited from Kharam ancestors, Insak Khare is one of the priceless assets of Kharam tribe which should not be lost at any point of time, she noted.

Saying that this folk dance helps in identifying a Kharam girl, Wasonai conveyed satisfaction and pride over the successful preservation and promotions of their cultural heritage and traditional customs.

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