My Memories of Imphal From 1941 : Chapter 17 :: Download
Dr Mohendra Irengbam *
Sana Konung (Palace) with a tattered flag, November 24, 2013.
Rajput architectural style Palace completed on November 14, 1910.
Boy in front (R) my grandchild Aryaman Lairenjam
Part 17
Jalkeli & Bodhchandra Maharaj
For me, as the sky glimmers again with some streaks of day light delivering rays of joyful sunshine, bringing out the happy hormone of serotonin in my blood, I want to record for posterity my observation of a Vaishnavite festival of Jalkeli (water game) that I saw at the Mandab of Govindaji Temple at Konung (Palace) when I was 8 or 9 years old. This is linked to a short account of Maharaj Bodhchandra who lived in this palace as the last king. I have a lot of compassion for Maharaj Bodhchandra.
Meiteis tended to cavort in various pastimes. This premise is because as there was scarcity of jobs, they had a lot of spare time for pandering in frivolities. The celebration of Jalkeli is such an avocation. It is based on the mythological pastime of Radha, Krishna, and Gopis, frolicking in water.
The memory of the Jalkeli festival awakens in me a wishful nostalgia about a pastoral Manipur, way back seventy years ago. My excitement is not about Jalkeli itself, but for my first glimpse of the Sana Konung – the Golden Palace and its splendour, during the last year of Maharaja Churachand who died in November 1941 in Navdeep.
I was a little boy when my sister-in-law Ibemhal took me to the Palace Mandab of Govindaji Temple where she went to take part in the festival.
She was a leima- a royal descendent, and as such, she was asked to take part in this Jalkeli festival. There are two main dynasties of Meitei kings: (1) Narasingh lineage of Ningthouja dynasty [r.1844-1850 CE] and (2) Bhagyachandra lineage (r.1762-1799 CE]. Also known as the House of Karta. Jalkeli was introduced by Raja Narasingh in 1845.
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* Dr Mohendra Irengbam wrote this article for e-pao.net
The writer can be contacted at irengbammsingh(AT)gmail(DOT)com
This article was webcasted on April 09 2023 .
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