UKAL demands annulment of Shri Govindajee Temple (Third Amendment) Bill 2014
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 17 2014:
The Umanglai Kanba Apunba Lup (UKAL) has demanded annulment of the Shri Govindajee Temple (Third Amendment) Bill 2014, which was tabled and passed in the Manipur Legislative Assembly on July 25 last.
The decision to press the demand was unanimously taken in a meeting held at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen, Konung Lampak under the aegis of Umanglai Kanba Apunba Lup today.
The member of the Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Board O Menjor, a retired principal; Prof Ng Kangjiya; the advisor of the Lai Lup Mutuwa Bahadur and its member N Indramani and the ex-Minister RV Mingthing attended the function as presidium members.
During the meeting, UKAL Cashier Mutum Maniton said that the Government of Manipur, through Shri Govindajee Temple (Third Amendment) Bill 2014, has intended to perform the rituals of Umanglai (local deity) and its related activities under the Govindajee Temple Board.
Maniton observed that the future of Umanglai is uncertain due to the recent move of O Ibobi led Manipur Government.
He said that there are lots of distinguishable features between Umanglai and Govindajee, including ritual patterns and ways of offering flowers and other items.
In this regard, he urged the gathering to think over the move of the State Government of performing rites and rituals of Umanglai under Govindajee Temple Board.
Govindajee Temple Board is indeed a committee to look after the assets of Govindajee, he said and added that no non-Hindu is permissible to become a member of the Board.
Articulating on the practice of Umanglai, the rites and rituals including the text of the hymn have been practiced, unlike Govindajee, according to the norms of Sanamahism.
So, the ritual of Umanglai should not be practiced under Govindajee Temple Board.
The meeting later resolved to appeal the Government of Manipur to annul Shri Govindajee Temple (Third Amendment) Bill 2014 by September 10 next month failing which UKAL will launch agitations from the next day.