Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, February 25, 2010:
The first North East Mukna festival concludes with the distribution of prizes to the competitors here at the historic Hafta Kang-jeibung, a play field near Royal Palace in Imphal on Thursday.
Mukna is a kind of Manipuri style of wrestling.
Mukna, generally regarded as one of the manliest of sports has been perhaps with Manipuris from time immemorial.
It is a very popular game of two persons who are trained by the village 'Ojha' (Master), who received the title of 'Jatra' (Unbeaten) person.
It has fundamental Rules agreed by all Mukna organizations and& with Royal Consent.
This time wrestlers from four north eastern states including the host state Manipur,neighbouring Assam,Mizoran and Nagaland took part in the three day festival.
Chief Whip of Manipur�s ruling front and MLA T Mangibabu was the chief guest of the concluding gathering while president of the all Manipur Mukna association and former minister Dr M Nara was the functional president.
Former MLA Vivekraj Wangkhem ,chief medical officer of the Imphal east district Dr Ksh Manglem and SP Imphal East district Th Radheshyam were also present Nagaland�s 7 member team including their former traditional wrestling(kene) champion Vekhriyi and another wrestler Savizo Thira both from Phek district and Mizoram�s competitor Lalnunfela who weighs 125 kgs were the main attraction of the festival.
Mukna champions of Assam namely Th Bijoy and H Hemango Singh from Hojai area in Assam�s Nagaon district besides the local favourites Sh Somorjit,Bhasker,Romen,Loyangamba and Tomba also performs well in their respective bouts.
Speaking on the occasion,almost all the dignitaries expressed the need to preserve and promote the game of Mukna for the future generation of the region.
Holding of such a regional festival is to popularise indigenous sports in international arena,they added.