Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 12, 2010:
Siichii-tu Kachi, the traditional event of stone pulling of the Maram community was held yesterday at Willong village in Senapati district.
The event was organised in honour of late Th Rojing Marius, elder brother of former Education Minister Francis Ngajokpa.
Orchestrated by AtuRa Katipa (village priest), the event was participated by all men of the village.
They pulled up a large stone from a place about 5 Kms away from the village and brought to the homestead of the dead man where it was erected as a memorial stone.
It is said that the stone was a particular stone identified by god in the dream of the Atu-Ra Katipa.
Talking about the event, former president of the Maram Union Manipur, K Raisung said that Maram community revered stones as gods.
It has been a tradition of the Maram community since ancient period to erect stones in Maram villages guided by a belief that this would make the villages as strong as rock.
Not all people can perform Siichii-tu Kachi.
Only those who can satiate the villagers organised these events, he added.