Imphal, December 08: Indigenous tribal games received a new leash of life in the 2-day workshop on traditional games and toy-craft of the tribes of Manipur which began yesterday at the Tribal Research Institute auditorium, Chingmeirong in Imphal organized by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi in association with the Manipur Film Development Corporation Limited, Imphal and Tribal Research Institute, Imphal.

Indigenous and traditional games of different sports and fun loving tribes of Manipur such as Kabui (Rongmei), Thangal, Liangmei, Kharam, Paite, Hmar, Tarao, etc were presented today at the workshop.

Some indigenous games are also demonstrated today at the workshop.

Known for their ways of having their own games and their own ways of competition since olden days, the tribal of Manipur brings out their own games which they inherited from their respective progenitors in a vibrant and dynamic way.

And interestingly, some games of the tribal are restricted to some festival or occasion, though it might sound lively.

The games have in a way reflected the unique tribal ways of life.

With some games having its based to olden day's myths and stories.

Take for instance the Liangmei's Chakui Poi Libo game wherein the game has been rooted from a myth in which a Tigress which once gave birth to 30 cubs and the mother tiger ate most of her cubs except a few of them.

Some of the tribal games have their association with particular festivals.

Likewise, the Rongmei (Kabui) Daanh Chamei (long and broad jump) and Luaih Pinhmei (tug of war) are usually associated with its festival of Maliang Ngai, a festival held after seed sowing which likely falls in the month of May.

Traditional games of the Thangal tribes like Sagaai Kagu (hockey) and Lingai Kathan (traditional Kaang) have been describe in a lively way in the workshop.

Seamson B Mai of the Thangal Union, Manipur while explaining the rules of the games said that Lingai Kathan of the Thangal tribe is the most popular and important game of the fun and sports loving people of the Thangal.

Sadly though the tribal have their own traditional and indigenous games and sports, it is dwindling away except some, in the absence of lovers as well as players of the sports.

Lastly, to put N.Adibou words in short the young generation imagines and visualizes the games in their own way with the onset of modernization.

The demonstration and presentation of other tribal games, toys and doll would go on till tomorrow at the TRI auditorium at Chingmeirong in Imphal.

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