SAGOL KANGJEI
1. Context
Recently Union Home Minister Inaugurated, 122-foot-tall statue of a polo player astride a Manipur Pony in Imphal. It is believed that Sagol Kangjei, the modern-day Polo game originated in Manipur.
2. What is Sagol Kangjei
- Sagol Kangjei is the name of the game of polo played in Manipur. Sagol means pony/horse, Kang means a ball or round object, and jei is a stick used for hitting. In the state of Manipur, it has always been a game for the common man. It is played by seven players on each side and the players are mounted on ponies.
- Manipuri polo symbolises the immense cultural heritage of the state, and great efforts have been put made to raise the standard of this popular game. The prominent patrons of the game were King Kyamba and King Khagemba ( 1597-1672 A.D.), and King Chandra Kirti ( 1850 - 1886 A.D.). The latter, especially, is to be credited with popularising the sport in other parts of the world.
- There are no goalposts in this game. Goal lines determine the end of the two boundaries of the rectangular field. The ball ( hang drum ) is white. To score a goal the ball must cross the line.
- The polo stick is made of cane or wood, and is called Kang – hu and has a head of hardwood and the ball is made of bamboo root.
- The traditional attire consists of a chin - strap ( khadangchet ) and a turban, for protecting the head. Leg - guards ( khongyom ) are worn below the knee. Since no shoes are worn, the players use khumit - Khang. A leash of thick leather is held by the index finger of the left hand.
- This is a seasonal game and is played in the Manipuri month of September / October and in June / July.
3. About 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.
- One source stated Tibetan ponies as its ancestors while another source stated its origin to be a cross between Mongolian wild horse and Arabian. In some manuscripts, it is referred to as Mangal-sa or Mongolian animal.
- In Manipuri mythology, the Manipuri pony was regarded to have descended from “Samadon Ayangba” the winged steed of Lord Margjing, one of the guardian deities of Manipur.
- According to the Imphal-based curator and author, the Manipur Pony features in mythological stories, and is celebrated in oral tradition, ballads, and rituals. Historically an important part of Manipuri armies, it is used only for cavalry, rituals, and sport, not for working as a draught animal.
- The mythology is that it was created as a winged beast that had to be controlled because of which its wings had to be lopped off and it fell to the ground.
- It was created by Sanamahi, also known as Marjing, who is the older of two brothers in an archetypal sibling mythology. He feels that his birthright is stolen by his younger brother Pakhangba and creates the winged beast . Samadon Ayangba to try to kill his brother.
- The horse turns out to be really destructive and begins to get out of control. Sanamahi’s father orders him to control it, as a result of which Sanamahi cuts off its wings.
4. Conserving the breed
- The small and dwindling numbers of the Manipur Pony has been a cause for concern.
- The 17th Quinquennial Livestock Census 2003 has recorded 1,898 Manipur Ponies; the number fell to 1,101 in the 19th Quinquennial Livestock Census in 2012.
- However, when the Manipur Pony Society tried to conduct a random survey in the state in 2014, they said they found it difficult to count even 500 of the animals.
For Prelims
| For Prelims: Sagol Kangjei, Manipur Pony, The Marjing Polo Complex, 19th Quinquennial Livestock Census, and Lord Margjing, one of the guardian deities of Manipur. |
Source: The Indian Express
