Police ground, near North Campus, DU wore a festive look recently as dozen of floodlights lightened it up in the summer night even as tantilising drumbeats echoed throughout the whole time. The scenic display was made even more hauntingly unforgettable with young girls and boys held hands and danced together akin to what every Manipuris had been doing for hundreds of years.

It was the ‘thabal chongba’ or the dancing ceremony which forms a part of Yaosang festival in Maipur. Organised by the Manipur Students’ Association, Delhi (MSAD), the event kickstarted its pitch from 9 pm onwards when the orchestral band at the centre of the venue got lost in a prism of dancing ecstasy admist their own haunting beats.

After going non stop for hours, the thabal finally took a break at midnight for speeches by the MSAD executives, theChief Guest and other guests of honour. And before ending, it culminated into a moment where time chose to stand still and let mesmerising glee took over as everybody in the thabal led by the organising members danced together in a same style for around 20 minutes.

A grand success, the celebration was attended by more than 1500 students from Delhi, Chandigarh, Meerut, Dehradun, Kurukshetra and Nainital.

Many were with all-praises. "Every year, we wait for this particular event of MSAD. We have our exams at hand, but simply couldn’t afford to miss it," said Paonam Boy, who along with his friends had come down all the way from Mumbai.

For those who were not from Manipur, the thabal proved to be a exhilarating experience. "I never knew about this before. But I’m so glad that I came here.It is simply superb," remarked Swati Khanna, a student of Miranda House.

Kim Mi Jeong, a Korean tourist who came down after she received an invitation from a MSAD volunteer said, "I’m totally bewildered.This is totally a new experience for me.But I wish I can get to attend it again."

Established in 1971, MSAD is one of the biggest students’ associations in India. It is the apex body that represents all the students from Manipur pursuing education in Delhi. Since its inception, the association has been functioning as a common platform for all the Manipuri students in Delhi to get in touch and interact among themselves. MSAD constantly involves itself in several student welfare programmes, counsellings, recreation sessions, sports & cultural meets and educational seminars throughout the year.

Works solicited for Maheiroi 2002

MSAD is publishing its annual magazine Maheiroi 2002 in August, 2002. The issue will be a specially designed collector’s piece that will reflect the achievements of every Manipuri students in the Capital in every field. Esays, poetry, fiction and artwork are solicited from all Manipuri students latest by 31st July, 2002 at - [email protected]

Please note that the editirial board wouldn’t be able to entertain requests or works after the set deadline above.

The Editorial Board
MSAD (2001-02)

For further information, please contact:

Palin Ningthoujam
General Secretary- MSAD 2001-02
27 Indra Vihar, 2nd floor
Delhi –110009
Tel: 7654331, 9811519883.
E-mail: [email protected]
www.msad.i12.com