Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, February 17, 2010:
Lakhangamei (meaning virgin dance) attracted hundreds of villagers and dignitaries attended at the concluding day of the three day festival of Luira Phanit, the festival of seed sowing festival held today at KK Leisaphanit village in Ukhrul district.
For the Tangkhuls, Lakhanganmei is a kind of miss contest, according to V Zingkhai, a member of the Tangkhul Literary Society who talked on the account of uniqueness of the dance form which only the virgin girls perform.
Only the traditional attire will adorn the dancers.
If any of the girls in the dance group is attracted, the boy can approach and propose her to meet within the month of March, otherwise by April, she will reject the proposal.
She rejected the proposal because as per custom of Tangkhul, boys cannot approach the girls latter than March as working season, that is field works began from April.
Luira Phanit is till alive because of the Lakhangamei, he observed saying that as the dance item is performed only in this festival, youths are very anxious of advent of the festival only to take chance of knowing each other and propose for life partnership.
In the olden times, girls perform the dance without shirt with the notion to show their body health status and their hygienic approach.
At that time every virgin girls took part in the dance.
Fines were imposed if any of the girls fail to take part, he went to observe.
He also expressed concern over the decreasing number of girls taking part in the unique dance.
The dance form was also presented on the third day of the three day long Luira Phanit festival at KK Leisaphanit village of Ukhrul orgainsed by the United Hanphun Phungcham Youth Front.
Chief security commissioner of the North Eastern Frontier Railway, SZ Samuel graced as chief guest and senior news reader of AIR and translator Edmund Chiphung as guest honour.