Origin of Yaoshang Sports

Seram Neken *

YAOSHANG HAS been a unique feather on the cap of already enriched Manipuri Culture. Meitei Yaoshang is inherently different from the Holi festival of the Hindus. It has its own ethno-heritage origin and it features mainly on gaiety and extravaganza. Young and old alike enjoy yaoshang in their own ways.

However, the traditional aesthetic elements are often devalued by the present generation which is drown in drugs, alcoholism, substance abuse and unwanted social behavior. In such a situation, it is fortunate that traditional yaoshang festival be replaced by yaoshang sports festivals in all localities.

Traditionally, the festival was marked by 'Aber Teinaba, Pechakari Kapnaba, Sen Munbi, Chak Chanaba, Holi Sakpa Thabal Chongba' etc. However, all the ugly scenes of the Yaoshang festival have been sidelined to bring in a new genre of sports personalities all over the state. Each and every locality of Manipur valley organizes sports festivals in its locality during the five days of Yaoshang.

Picture Credit: Ringo Pebam

The waste of energy, time and spirit in enjoying the festive mood of Yaoshang has been stopped and the festival turns constructive and productive in the guise of sports and games. This is a very positive and encouraging trend of Manipur society, which the elders of yore dreamt of in the 1940s.Yaoshang has become synonymous with sports all around the state.

Historically, like-minded youths of the 1940s at some specific localities of Imphal started organizing games and sports during Yaoshang. The attempt was solely to divert the energy of the youths from indulging in ugly and useless spends of traditional yaoshang to promoting healthy and disciplined social life. An example was set at Akampat in Imphal east around 1946 by the elders of Singjamei Kshetri Leikai, Bamon Leikai and Khongman by organizing games and sports during Yaoshang.

This may historically be termed as the origin of Yaoshang sports festival in Manipur. Most of the elders of the time involved in this venture have either expired or too old to appear in social events. But their vision and objectives have been successfully achieved nowadays, as almost all the localities of valley organize yaoshang sports with varied events and disciplines.

Picture Credit: Deepak Shijagurumayum

Organisation of sports during yaoshang festival has multifaceted merits and highly relevant in the present chaotic situation of the society. Yaoshang sports has tactfully diverted the ugly scenes of traditional yaoshang and prevented wastes of energy and money in enjoying the festival. Small children and youths have the opportunity to expose their talents in various fields like games, sports, public appearance, public speaking and socializing people.

Besides promoting health, sports reduce the quantum of alcoholism and substance abuse, as young people are increasingly attracted towards participation and arrangement of sports. It maintains discipline and grooms character,because both the young and old people the locality mingle together in such a platform for five days.

It helps create mutual understanding, co-operation and respectfulness among the youths. Yaoshang sports serves in reducing the generation gap in the society, thereby moulding a well-disciplined social life in Manipur. The entertainments like Shumang Lila during yaoshang educate the people of all walks with values of life and society. Money, which otherwise is to be spent in the gaiety and extravaganza of the mood, has been put to constructive events.

No doubt, many sports stars of the state were once the siblings in the bed of yaoshang sports. Ksh Thoiba Singh, an Olympian of Manipur state was said to be a very dynamic young player during Yaoshang sports in his locality. Famous debaters, politicians,academicians and sports persons owe their origin from local sports festivals. Thanks to the right thinking elders who mooted and materialized the idea of organizing sports festivals during Yaoshang.

Yaoshang sports, in fact, are the right platform for socializing the youths of Manipur particularly the Meiteis/ Meeteis. It is said that Muslim and Christian communities have the right platform for public gathering and positive discussion in their weekly religious sermons. Thus, their unifying and disciplinary tendencies are active and alive.

However, the Meiteis do not frequently meet and discuss their social welfare on regular basis. So, it may be rightly said that yaoshang sports is the only regular opportunity for the Meities to have a rendezvous for social good.

The present day youth unrest, substance abuse, alcoholism, unwanted behavior of the young people, cultural invasion, losing moral values and character, generation gap etc. need to be checked and reformed with the right platform and right tool. Yaoshang sports will optimistically serve this purpose. In view of all the inherent merits of yaoshang sports, the present generation needs to maintain its continuity and preserve the age-old beauty of these local mini Olympics.

Picture Credit: Ringo Pebam

The state government, mainly the sports department has to put some thought on its widespread encouragement and improvement even by devoting provisions in the state sports policy. The local clubs may be encouraged to organize their own sports events with physical, literary and entertaining programmes. The social benefits of such a festival have to be made aware to the local leadership.

Unfortunately, a mindless incident broke the festive mood of the people, as the son of a cabinet minister of the state shot dead a youth in Imphal. On the last day of Yaoshang festival last year (2010), state's advocate general received a controversial bullet injury from a cabinet minister's trigger. The birth of a trigger-happy community in Manipur has produced extreme mindless violence marring the festive mood of Manipuris during festivals.

The violence of such nature involving the state's leadership is condemned by all for its notoriety. May the almighty put an abrupt end to such mischievous games of mindless people for all times to come. Festivals need to be rosy and constructive, rather than gunny and destructive.