SAGOL
KANGJEI - ART AND CULTURE
News:
Sagol Kangjei: The
ancient polo of Manipur, played on the celebrated Manipur Pony
What's
in the news?
●
Part of Home Minister Amit Shah’s
programme in Manipur was the inauguration of a 122-foot-tall statue of a polo player astride a Manipur Pony in Imphal,
a project that has been in the works for several years now.
Key
takeaways:
●
The Home Minister inaugurated a 122 feet Marjing Polo Complex in Imphal.
Sagol
Kangjei:
●
Modern polo is said to have originated
from Sagol Kangjei, a sport indigenous to Manipur, in which players ride
horses, specifically the Manipur Ponies, which are referenced in records dating
back to the 14th century.
●
The Manipuri style of polo is known as the
Pana which is different from the
polo played in the international style.
Manipur
Pony:
●
The Manipur Pony is one of five recognised equine breeds of India, and has a powerful
cultural significance for Manipuri society.
●
The Marjing Polo Complex has been
developed as a way to conserve the Manipur Pony.
●
The State Government’s Manipur Pony Conservation and Development
Policy 2016 calls for that the Manipuri pony has been indispensable with
Manipuri society for its socio-cultural association for centuries.
Other
traditional games:
●
Thang
Ta & Sarit Sarak - Martial art
●
Khong
Kangjei - Manipuri hockey
●
Yubi
Lakpi - Manipuri style of rugbi
●
Mukna
- Manipuri
wrestling
●
Hiyang
Tannaba - Traditional boat race
●
Kang
- Indigenous
indoor Manipuri game played on the day between Manipur's New Year's Day and the
Ratha Jatra festival.It was believed by the Manipuris that it was a game played
by the Gods.