Folk Materials and A Glance at Manipuri Folk Crafts
- Part 2 -

Dr. Rajkumari Musuksana *

Cane and Bamboo Crafts of Manipur :: Photo Credits :: Mutua Bahadur

Read Folk Materials and A Glance at Manipuri Folk Crafts : Part 1

Considering the time limit, only a few of the bamboo products and their relation to the Manipuri culture and tradition are detailed here.

• Lukmai (a round and shallow basket of different sizes with a circular leg to put articles)
  
  Lukmai is one of the bamboo products. Lukmai occupies a special place in Manipuri society and it is used in every rite and ritual beginning from birth to death. Lukmai's place is almost certain in all the ritual and ceremonies of the Manipuri society. Among the Manipuris, on the sixth day of a child birth, Epan Thaba (Swasti-Puja) is performed.
  
  As a part of this puja the elders and the children from the maternal side of the new-born child come and join the celebration. As a part of custom, the women folk bring rice, athenpot (seasonal vegetables), mattress, clothes, silver bangles and silver chain to be used or worn by the child, sweets, betel nuts and fruits placed on the lukmai to the house of the new-born.
  
  Lukmai is also used in marriage ceremony too. On the day of Waroipot or Yathang Thanaba (finalization of engagement); Heijingpot (pre-marriage ceremony) and Luhongba (marriage ceremony), as a part of tradition, the bridegroom family brings fruits, sweets and kwa tanggas (betel leaves and betel nuts placed on circular double decker plates made of plantain leaves) which are arranged decoratively on different lukmais and present to the bride's family. All these items are distributed by the arangpham (arranger) to all who are present in the function. Kujabagi pot (trousseau) is also carried on the lukmai.
  
  On the occasion of death ceremonies such as Asthi Sanchay; Shradha; Phiroi (ceremonies for the departed soul), like in the marriage ceremonies, the kwa tangas are placed on lukmai. Thus in every rite and ritual of Manipuri tradition, lukmai becomes an integral part and will always be a part of Manipuri folk life.
• Meruk (a small measuring basket)
  
  Meruk is also a part and parcel of Manipuri society. It is used for measuring the quantity of rice before cooking on a daily basis. Apart from this, it holds a significant place in the ritual ceremonies. It has been and will always be an integral part of Manipuri folk life.
  
  In the ritual ceremonies it plays an important role since it is used for measuring the quantity of rice to be offered to deities. On the first Sunday of Sajibu (April) a ritual ceremony known as 'Nongmaijing Chingsengba' is performed every year by the royal priest. A prayer is offered at Wakha (name of a place at Nongmaiching hill) to appease the ruling God and Goddess of the Nongmaiching hill so as to bring peace and prosperity of the year. Kwa mapum manga (five whole betel nut); mana manga (five betel leaves); cheng meruk ama (one meruk of rice), etc. are used while offering the prayer by the priest (Chandrasekhar, 1994: 14).
  
  'Sanamahi Chenghongba' is another ceremony where cheng utong/meruk ama (one meruk of rice) and laphoi laphang ama (a bunch of banana) is offered (Chandrasekhar, 1994: 61). On the first Saturday of Lamta Tha (month of March) at dusk a ritual ceremony named 'Khunthong Latpa' is performed. The main items offered include khabei mari (four ladles), chegap mari (four tongs), thangjou mari (four daggers), chu mari (four sugar canes), cheng meruk nipan (eight meruks of rice).
  
  'Pakhangba Chenghongba' is another ceremony performed on Kalengi taramangani panba (full moon day of May) in which one must offer 15 meruks of rice, 25 meitei thum mapaks (locally blended plate-shaped common salt cake), 25 eggs of duck, 25 bunches of banana ending in odd number when counted in terms of pair, one more bunch of banana ending in even number, 50 betel nuts, 50 betel leaves to the deity (Nilbir, 2007: 99). Thus meruk which is a part of folk crafts is tied by a very strong bond to the Manipuri folk life. It will be difficult to break this bond.
• Phiruk (a covered basket generally used in rituals)
  
  Phiruk and Manipuri folk life have a very deep relationship and close ties which cannot be broken easily. There are two ceremonies usually held before the actual marriage ceremony. They are 'Waroipot Puba' (a custom carrying betel nut, fruits and other edibles to the house of the bride to mark the final agreement of betrothal) and 'Heijingpot Puba' (offering of fruits, sweets and other edibles to friends and relatives of bride by the parents, guardians and relatives of the bridegroom before marriage at the residence of the bride to mark betrothal).
  
  On both these ceremonies womenfolk of the bridegroom carry all the delectable sweets, fruits and eatables in a number of phiruks and lukmais. Every one of them in fine cloths and beautiful jewellery carries a phiruk or a lukmai on her head and walks in a row. The woman leading the group of the row is called 'Jatra Pubi.' On the occasion of the marriage ceremony, the 'Jatra Pubi' carries a particular and unique phiruk. This particular phiruk is smaller in size and has no lid, but decorated attractively.
  
  In this phiruk rice, tobacco-leaf, ginger and Meitei thum (locally blended plate-shaped common salt cakes) are placed in three separate layers wrapped in banana leaves. It is then covered with a white cloth and is tied with a paya (bamboo strip). This phiruk containing the above items is named as Phiruk Nungsang and is kept at the house of the bride untouched for four days.
  
  On the fifth day of marriage elder members of bride and bridegroom families together open this particular phiruk and check the contents. Sometimes small insects are found inside the phiruk besides the original materials. Depending upon the type of insect found inside, the elders forecast the compatibility of the married couple. For example, if kachappi (a small insect) is found, then it is traditionally considered auspicious for the couple.
  
  Another phiruk which contains offerings for the Lamlai (outfield god) and Apok-Asha (ancestor god) is also a must on both heijingpot and marriage ceremonies. Thus phiruk plays an important role in Manipuri culture especially at the time of marriage.
• Yangkok (a winnowing basket/fan) Yangkok the bamboo product of Manipur is an essential part of Manipuri folk life and its use cannot be easily done away with. This particular material is used in every household for winnowing and sun drying paddy, rice, grain, etc. Apart from this, this material has a special place in the rituals and ceremonies of the Manipuri society.
  
  While purchasing this bamboo product from the market, one has to take the advice of a person who has a thorough knowledge of folk practice, to take care of counting the number of cane strips at the top edge.

As a custom, the Manipuris burn the dead body. In the funeral pyre, the yangkok is used as a fan for the pyre. Each and every man taking part in the funeral must use the fan at least once to fan the pyre and at the end of the funeral this yangkok is burnt. It is considered as bad omen to have more than one yangkok in a house. So every household keeps only one of it for use. If the yangkok is torn or becomes unusable then it is cut into seven parts and is distributed to the neighbouring households where the pieces will be burnt down.

'Saroi-Khangba' is also one of the rituals of the Manipuris. On the first and second Saturdays of the Lamta Tha (the month of March) elderly women folk of the localities give offerings to the spirits and apparitions on the road specially at lamlong ahum phangba (3-cornered road crossing). On this occasion rice, vegetables, salt-pepper and other eatable items available during the season are placed particularly on the yangkok and offered to the spirits and apparitions. The said Saroi-Khangba is performed at the time of Lai-Haraoba also.

'Sanamahi Chenghongba' is one of the various rituals performed at the capital Kangla which is a principal heritage site of Manipur. On this occasion cheng chengkok manga (five half-mounds of rice), laphoi laphang yangkheinithoi (fifty two bunches of banana), la laton (outer part of plantain leaf), ... ... ... yangkok tara (ten winnowing fans/baskets) are used as a part of tradition (Nilbir, 2009: 101).

In the morning of Swasti-Puja day, the midwife places the new-born child on the yangkok and carries it around the fire for three times and, then, the mother (or grand-mother) of the child is asked the following question by the midwife. "Do you want your child or the yangkok?" The mother (or the grand-mother) replies that she wants the child. The child then is handed over to its mother by the midwife.

Thus just like lukmai, meruk and phiruk, yangkok is also a very important part of Manipuri folk life and it will always remain a prime in the Manipuri folk crafts. Manipur and its relationship with the folk craft: Manipur which is situated in the North Eastern part of India, has an abundant growth of bamboo. Because of the increasing population bamboo which was once grown in every household campus is now seen only in the areas which are spacious.

Bamboo is used not only as raw materials for folk crafts but also as construction materials and various household appliances. While making the makeshift-shed bamboo is used as the main foundation pillars and frames. Since the bamboo is abundant it is used extensively in different forms and kinds of household appliance products by the Manipuris and one can only praise them for the generous use of the bamboo. The knowledge system of the Manipuris, keeping in mind the rituals and traditions, has come up with various items which minimize the work efforts.

Mention may be made of yangkok which is used for winnowing the husk and dirt of food grain, polang (hamper/a basket-like sieve) which is used for cleaning the greens, lukmai which is used for overlay of the edibles, meruk which is used for handy measurement, lu (a fishing trap) which is used for catching fish in stream or brook, long-ngup (another fishing trap) which is used for catching fish in shallow pond, sairuk ( a small basket with four legs) which is a form of basket and is used for keeping things in a single place comfortably and Phoura (a big shallow basket round in shape) which is used for sun drying grains.

So, these various products of bamboo show the genius ideas and craftsmanship of the Manipuris. Everyday people use a variety of plastic carry bags for their daily purpose but when a traditional ritual occasion arises the bamboo products are considered very essential for carrying and distribution purpose. The reason is for 'sanctity' in the folk belief. There is a age-long traditional practice of carrying ceremonial objects in or upon bamboo product carrying objects.

As for example, when we buy a ghot chaphu (earthen pot) it is carried in a bamboo basket not in a plastic bag. During a ritual grand feast a special bamboo basket is used for washing the food items before the cooking. The damaged bamboo products can be easily burnt and the ash can be used as natural manure.

Conclusion: Hence, the bamboo products not only constitute a very important role in the Manipuri society but will always be an integral part of the culture and tradition of its people. It gives an immense benefit to the society, it enhances the artistic appeal, it is user-friendly, when its life-span expires it can be easily burnt and the various remains from it is used as manure which adds more fertility to the soil.

Global warming, to-day, calls people around the world to be more sensitive towards the environment and, hence, people should be keener on using more eco-friendly products which will save our planet. Bamboo products can play in this perspective a very important role for mankind in general. WORKS CITED:

• HANDOO, JAWAHARLAL.
  1989 Folklore: An Introduction,
  Mysore: Central Institute of Indian Languages.
• N. BASANTA.
  2010 Meitei Family in Flux: An Empirical Study,
  New Delhi: Akansha Publishing House.
• SAIREM, NILBIR.
  2007 Laining Nat Amasung Puwarigi Mityengda Kangla,
  Imphal: Thingbaijam Chanu Sairem Ongbi Ibemhal.
• SHARMA, B. KULACHANDRA.
  1998 Meiteigi Luhongba Amasung Louna-Leinabagi Wayen-Wakhun,
  Imphal: Pukhrambam (O) Matouleibi (Debala).
• SINGH, KHULLEM CHANDRASEKHAR.
  1994 Enatki Harao Kummei,
  Imphal: Meitei Mayek Organizing and Research Association.
• SINGH, N. KHELCHANDRA.
  1964 Manipuri to Manipuri & English Dictionary,
  Imphal: Ningthoukhongjam Khelchandra Singh.
• WADHA.
  2004 Britanica Ready Reference Encyclopedia,
  New Delhi: Encyclopedia Britanica (India) Pvt. Ltd. And Impulse Marketing.

Concluded....

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* Dr. Rajkumari Musuksana writes to e-pao.net for the first time. The writer is a Reader at Manipuri Deptt. from D.M. College of Arts, Imphal.
The writer can be contacted at musuksana(at)yahoo(dot)in
This article was posted on July 17, 2011.

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