When Sangai Festival miss the Tower of Samban-Lei Sekpil

Bobby James Wahengbam *

The giant Samballei Sekpil :: Pix - TSE

An annual calendar festival of Manipur Government, Sangai Festival, with a budget of few million rupees from the last some years, to make Manipur a preferred destination of tourist (National and aboard). If such fest is attempting to unleash her beauty, uniqueness, achievement and cultural unity of the state with a sole objective of promoting Manipur tourism. Since, the beginning of state endeavor of promoting tourism by undermining "The Only One in the World, Only Available in Manipur- Samban-Lei Sekpil" by the organizers is highly questionable/ doubtful/ regretted.

This festival may be considered as facsimile presentation of the whole of Manipur. Items/products from various sectors are displaying with great Meetei confidence to materialize the set objective of organizing such a festival: magnificent Manipur/the Jewel of Incredible India/Tourism: the alternative gigantic avenues of Manipur economy (tallest forecasting with utopian dream) etc. etc. etc.

When the product from our own looms and crafts were showing and selling in huge space and volume, how Samban-Lei Sekpil is left out?

When cultural items of the state were presenting with best decorations and designs of venues and ambience upliftment with a deep diversification of items like Dance: Maibi Dance, Thougal Dance, Basanta Raas, Basanta Khel, Phungarel, Thang Leiteng Haiba, Ta-Khousaba as a (mixture of dance and martial art) how Samban-Lei Sekpil is left out from Manipur Sangai Festival?

When indigenous culture presentation (instrument) like Pung and its diversified items like Pung Cholom, Dhon Cholom, Dhon Dhollak Cholom, Kartal Cholom were presenting by different renowned artists, associations as well as the Padmashri figures, how can Samban-Lei Sekpil is missing?

When different cultural programmes were presenting from different districts of the state with dedicated the festival evenings, how Samban-Lei Sekpil's inch of Hapta Kangjeibung is not available?

When Shumang Leela, a unique form of plays in the world was showing by different leading Leela Mandals of the state during the festival evenings, how the organizers assumed Samban-Lei Sekpil is an ordinary plant?

When indigenous foods of the state, (even though most stalls offering non-indigenous) in her best style and forms were serving also promoting by encouraging state food makers and lovers to popularize beyond the state how Samban-Lei Sekpil is not highlighting even a moment?

When the indigenous games like Arambai, Kang, Mukna, Mukna-Kangjei, Yubi-Lakpi, Thang-Ta were exhibiting and competing, 6th Manipur Polo International for our very own Great POLO is organizing by inviting foreign states. When Polo comes, there always be Samban-Lei Sekpil, the scientific reason is both enjoy the status of Guinness Books of World Records standard, form the whole of the state. The wonder that Polo celebrated with maximum level and Samban-Lei Sekpil artificially thrust out from the state with maximum will.

When an individual achievement is even glorifying in this festival why and how the only one in the world from Manipur is forgotten? If the festival is organizing in its true sense, Samban-Lei Sekpil deserves a prestigious presence in every level to promote tourism and highlighting achievements of the state. In 1991, Samban-Lei Sekpil becomes the second entrant into the prestigious golden pages of Guinness Book of World Records next to Polo from Manipur.

The journey of Sekpil is really slow, a decade is essentially taken, it was 2009, 31st December Honourable CM of Manipur reward her creator, an amount relevant to a national medalist with no incentives in his service career. In true sense, Samban-Lei Sekpil is a marvelous product of the state, which is blend of our culture and modern science.

From the culture, it captures her structure; from science the botanical theory of agronomy and its application made Samban-Lei Sekpil scaled the sky. When the world is looking for scientific tourism as the most preferred sector within the tourism industry, seems unattended by state tourism authority.

Imagine, when Samban-Lei Sekpil is incorporated in the festival, certainly it will give a halo effect, the most prospective ambassador of Manipur Tourism, must found a respectable place in such State Festival also.

When the relation between Sangai Festival and Sekpil is not bad, such festival can give a push impact towards the central objectives for organizing such festival in Manipur. Because, the tallest in the world can be seen by many (in the world) so is the Samban-Lei Sekpil that's Sangai is really missing but I am truly wishing the Sangai good luck.