Games and sports of the Zeliangrongs of North East
- Part 1 -

Budha Kamei *

Introduction:

The history of sport can be traced back to the existence of human civilization itself. It is a key part of cultural identity, and a mechanism for the protection and promotion cultural diversity. Thus, retaining knowledge of our traditional sporting practices is vital in term of sport as an expression of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Worldwide, there is a staggering cultural richness of indigenous, traditional, historical, and regional folk games and sports from different nations and ethnic minorities, many of which are fascinating not only for their differences, but also for the similarities of shared common features.

The Encyclopedia of World Sport includes over three thousand traditional sports from all around the world. The importance of traditional games and sports to our cultural heritage and the need for preservation has been officially recognized by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). In spite of this, this important cultural heritage domain has yet to receive significant attention from the research community.

Today, the native peoples of North East India have eager interest in their traditional games and sports as it ensures not only good health, fitness and generally freedom from ailments of various types, but also promotes in preservation of cultural heritage of the ethnic communities. It is, therefore, urgently needed to study the traditional games and sports of the Zeliangrong of North East.

Methods and Materials:

The data of the study is based on primary and secondary materials. Primary source mainly depends on field work; about 20 persons are selected as samples for the study. The key informants include village elders and educated persons who have well knowledge about the activities of the Zeliangrong are interviewed through structured and unstructured techniques to get first hand information as primary source. Secondary sources cover the available books, articles related to the traditional games and sports of the native peoples of North East and the Zeliangrong in particular.

A profile of the Zeliangrong:

The Zeliangrong, one of the natives of North East India belongs to the Tibeto-Burman family of Mongoloid racial stock. According to legend, the Zeliangrong originated from a cave known as Mahou Taobei; they moved to Makhel and to Ramting Kabin, and then to Makuilongdi, Senapati District of Manipur.

From Makuilongdi, they migrated to different directions. Most of the Naga traditions point to Makhel as their original home. Another theory suggests that the Zeliangrong along with other groups of Tibeto-Burman family came from two regions: south-East Asia and South-West China. As the Zeliangrong are "Tibeto-Burman, they must have lived with other groups of the same family in south West China before 1000 B.C and migrated to eastern Tibet, Upper Burma, then moved into Irrawaddy valley, Malaysia and Indonesia, and they returned southward and entered north East India through Manipur river, and some tracts of Indo-Burma border to their present habitat. Now, the population of this ethnic group is found inhabiting in three states of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland.

In a year, the Zeliangrong people celebrate nine festivals at different stages of agricultural operations according to lunar calendar with festive spirit and prayer. Cultural festivals are times of "worship and prayer to Almighty God for plenty and welfare and celebration for them."The social and cultural values, the aesthetic and creativity are expressed through dances, games, songs and music. "The Zeliangrong religion is sustained by their colorful festivals accompanied by religious rites and prayers, dance and music and feasting during different months of a year."

Traditional Games and sports:

The Zeliangrong are lovers of games and sports. Various games and sports are played by both young and old during their recreation. Games and sports are usually played during festivals and sometimes on ordinary occasion. Some of the important games and sports are Gaah Tarimei, Loi Jaimei, Tao Phaimei Khatni Daan Chammei, Nao Khemmei, Laorong Pakmei, Mishum Phenmei, Goi khatni Guak Nimmei etc.

Gaah Tarimei:

Gaah Tarimei is a traditional game played by the boys and girls divided into two groups. It is played with the round seed of creeper (Costus Specosus) that grows in forest. It is nearly circular in shape, one and half inches in diameter and three fourth of an inch in thickness. The colour of the big seed is deep dark red.

The seed whose skin is very smooth when thrown on the well paved floor or the surface in the play moves smoothly without much friction. Each player has its own Gaah. One party puts these up on the ground and other party flicks to the opponents' pieces by putting the middle finger of the right with the same of the left. "The most popular game of the Zeliangrong boys and girls is the gaaring play in which the seed of the gaa creeper is used for several items of gaaring game.

These children play the spinning top spun with a string and exactly those in use by the English boys." Among the Meteis, this game is known as Kang; they play it in a little different style. In the play, Kang is thrown in many ways:
(1) throwing of the Kang with one hand or both the hands,
(2) throwing of the Kang simple to roll,
(3) holding of Kang in between the toes and then hopping one step to begin the play,
(4) throwing of Kang with the head,
(5) throwing of Kang from near the eyes, ears and lips,
(6) throwing of the Kang holding it with the flexion of the knee,
(7) releasing Kang making it down roll from the arm,
(8) to push and
(9) to throw etc.

Among the tribes of Manipur, Kaang is variously recognized as Southela by Tangkhuls, Thilli by Maos, Aga Ngahoktoo by Maram and so on. Gaah is usually played in the festival (after the performance of main functions of the festival) as recreation activity.

Loi Jaimei:

Loi Jaimei, tug of war is closely associated with the Gudui festival, which falls in the lunar month of Guduibuh, May every year. In the festival, they worship Tingkao Ragwang, the Supreme God by performing paddy calling ritual in every house of the village.

The main objective of this festival is for timely rainfall of the season, to grow the paddy plants well and nourish and to root to the soil, expand its stems quickly not causing any disturbances by insects or pesticides or warding off disease etc.

In the afternoon, people organize entertainment programme in which there is a Duidom Phaimei (throwing of the water put in a plantain leaf container) among the boys and girls (Tuna Gaan) followed by Loijaimei, tug of war between boys and girls, males and females as a symbolic representation of competition between gods and goddesses for possessing the paddy. It is usually performed at the Danshanpung (village jumping ground) and girls ritually win the game, for there would be good yield in the year. The presence of rice deity is well attested in Asia where it is the staple crop. The rice deity is normally female, and to this Northeast is no exception.

According to TC Hodson, there is a festival in the month of May in which the girls have a tug of war against the boys in order to take the omens for the future of the crops. Pulling of rope is a game that directly pits two teams against each other in test of strength. Soon after the boys and girls hold at opposite ends of a rope, a man who acts as referee gives 'start' signal to begin the game. A line is usually drawn at the middle of the ground and the team who cross it in pulling the rope is declared loser.

Each team will get three chances to win the competition. If a team wins two times, the team will be declared winner. There is no specific place and time in the history to define the origin of the game, tug of war. The origin of the game in India has strong archeological roots going back at least to the 12th century AD in the area of Orissa on the east coast. The famous Sun Temple of Konark has a stone relief on the west wing of the structure clearly showing the game of Tug of War in progress.

To be continued....