Manipuri- Pung Cholom

Pung cholom is a Manipuri dance. It is the soul of Manipuri Sankirtana music and Classical Manipuri dance. The Pung Cholom is a unique classical dance of Manipur. This dance may be performed by men or women and is usually a prelude to the Ras Lila. In this style, the dancers play the pung (a form of hand beaten drum) while they dance at the same time. Dancers need to be graceful and acrobatic at the same time. They use these acrobatic effects without breaking the rhythm or flow of music. The dance is marked by a gentle rhythm, which gradually builds up to a thunderous climax. Pung cholom borrows elements from the Manipuri martial arts Thang Ta and Sarit Sarak and also from the traditional Maibi Jagoi dance.

                                                                                              

Manipuri Classic dance

Manipuri Ras Lela Dance

Rasalila

Rasa dance is part of the traditional story of Krishna described in Hindu scriptures such as the Bhagavata Purana and literature such as the Gita Govinda, where he dances with Radha and her sakhis. The Indian classical dance of Kathak evolved from the Raslila of Braj and Manipuri Classical Dance also known as Natwari Nritya, which was revived in 1960s by Kathak dancer.
 rasa meaning aesthetic/s and lila meaning act, play or dance is a concept from Hinduism which roughly translates to play (lila) of aesthetics (rasa), or more broadly as "Dance of Divine Love"

                                                                   Manipuri  Rasalila

                                                                      Manipuri  Rasalila

                                                                  
                                                                   Manipuri Rasa lila
                                                                

                                                                           Manipuri  Rasalila

MRS HUME’S PHEASANT “Nong-in” – A flagship bird of Manipur

The Hume's Pheasant is lovingly called Loining-koi or Noining-koi or Nong-in, in Manipuri or Wa-ru in Lamkang or Tikaren in Tangkhul. The bird is, indeed, very colourful and attractive. It usually resides near rivers with rocky hillsides abundant with scrub forests. The people of Manipur had the belief that the eternal soul of an orphan or a loving couple dying from hunger and thirst transformed themselves into an elegant-looking pair of birds to be known as Nong-in. In fact, this bird earned its name 'Nong-in' because of its ability of knowing changes in weather conditions or cycle of cloud in the sky (Nong- meaning rain, in - meaning to follow: one knowing the rain/weather cycle). Admired by lyricists and naturalists of all ages, Nong-in is often described as the most talented lover of song, dance and moonlight. 

Nong-in in Manipur appears very rare and vanishing. Its past range covers Ukhrul, Valley of Barak River and its tributaries, mouth of Thoubal River etc between 900-1800 metres. Here the bird was frequently seen along the open dry evergreen, mixed pine-broadleaf forests on the steep rocky hillsides, interrupted by scrub and grassy plains. Roosts were mainly located along ridges, and in other relatively open areas. They often spend time by feeding and resting in pair scenes of rejoicing in mud-bathing or sunbathing continues hours together or till eventide. When a sudden danger or change of weather was sensed, the frenzy birds crawled behind the rock-clefts with noisy calls. When a pair from a cleft-shelter started calling, another pair nearby responded, and thus within a short period the whole air is filled with a chord of their calls. Trawlers took advantages of it for locating the presence of the bird. 
In October 2005,  a 60-70 aged Tamenglongian revealed his past experiences of Nong-in, locally known as Azuina/Thangding in Rongmei (these names are not certain) in small flocks mostly one male with three-four females near brooks with rocky hillsides and plenty of sand deposits along the course. They came out mostly during early morning and after a feeding all through the morning, they perched and took rest. Frequently a bird or so lays over its one wing and the other wing and legs, stretching out in one direction, which may be a form of complete rest in tranquil environment.
They perched and took rest. Frequently a bird or so lays over its one wing and the other wing and legs, stretching out in one direction, which may be a form of complete rest in tranquil environment.

A true hero, Mary Kom

Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom, born 1 March 1983, also known as MC Mary Kom, Magnificent Mary or simply Mary Kom, is an Indian boxer belonging to Kom tribal community of north-eastern state of Manipur.
Mary is a five time world boxing champion  and the only woman boxer to have won a medal in each one of the six world championships.She is the only Indian woman boxer to have qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics, competing in the flyweight (51kg) category and winning the bronze medal.
She has also been ranked as No. 4 AIBA World Women's Ranking Flyweight category.

Mary was born in Kangathei, in Churachanpur district of Manipur.She completed her primary education from Loktak Christian Model High School, Moirang, up to her class VI standard and attended St. Xavier Catholic School, Moirang, up to class VIII. She then moved to Adimjati High School, Imphal, for her schooling for class IX and X, but could not pass her exam. She did not want to reappear for her exams so she quit her school and gave her examination from NIOS, Imphal and graduation from Churachandpur College
She had a keen interest in athletics from childhood, it was the success of Dingko Singh (He was born on 1 January 1979 in a remote village in Manipur to a very poor family. Dingko had to fight back adversities right since the beginning of his life, and was brought up in an orphanage.Won the King's cup in Bangkok in 1997 Won the Asian Games gold in the 1998 Bangkok Games Ngangom Dingko Singh, usually known as Dingko Singh is an Indian Boxer, and considered to be one of the most outstanding boxers the nation has ever produced. He is well known for having grabbed a Gold Medal in the boxing event at the Bangkok Asian Games in Thailand- 1998. ) that inspired her to become a boxer in 2000.


Mary initially tried to hide her interest in boxing from her family, since it was not considered a suitable sport for a woman. However, after her victory in the Manipur state women's boxing championship in 2000, her career became public; her father discovered his daughter's achievement through a photograph in a newspaper. After winning the regional championship in West Bengal, Kom began competing at the international level at the age of 18, only a year after she started boxing. Her international debut was at the first AIBA Women's World Boxing Championship in the United States, where she won a silver medal in the 48 kg weight category. She followed this with a gold medal in the 45 kg class at the second AIBA Women's World Boxing Championship in Turkey in 2002
In 2003, Mary won a gold medal in the 46 kg class - she would compete in this class for the next three years - at the Asian Women's Boxing Championship in India, and was awarded the national Arjuna Award for outstanding sporting achievement. In 2004, she won gold at the Women's Boxing World Cup in Norway, and in 2005 again won gold at the Asian Women's Boxing Championship in Taiwan and the AIBA Women's World Boxing Championship in Russia. The following year, she won gold at the Venus Women's Box Cup in Denmark and the AIBA Women's World Boxing Championship in India. Her victory in the World Championship was marred by illness; the final had to be suspended in the second round, with Kom leading 19-4.

After a two-year break, she won a silver medal at the 2008 Asian Women's Boxing Championship in India and a fourth successive gold medal at the AIBA Women's World Boxing Championship in China,followed by a gold medal at the 2009 Asian Indoor Games in Vietnam.

In 2010, Kom won the gold medal at the Asian Women's Boxing Championship in Kazakhstan,and at the AIBA Women's World Boxing Championship in Barbados, her fifth consecutive gold at the championship. She competed in Barbados in the 48 kg weight class, after AIBA had stopped using the 46 kg class. In the 2010 Asian Games, she competed in the 51 kg class - the lowest in the contest - and won a bronze medal.In 2011, she won gold in the 48 kg class at the Asian Women's Cup in China,and in 2012 took the gold medal in the 51 kg class at the Asian Women's Boxing Championship in Mongolia.and in 2012 took the gold medal in the 51 kg class at the Asian Women's Boxing Championship in Mongolia.

Olympic gold medal for India 

At the 2012 AIBA Women's World Boxing Championship, Kom was competing not just for the championship itself but also for a place at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, the first time women's boxing had featured as an Olympic sport. She was defeated in the 51 kg quarter-finals by Nicola Adams of the UK (to whom she would eventually lose in the semifinal of the London 2012 Olympic Games as well), making this the first year since the championship began that Kom did not win a medal, but did succeed in getting a place for the Olympics. She was the only Indian woman to qualify for boxing event, with Laishram Sarita Devi narrowly missing a place in the 60 kg class.

'U MOROK' IN THE HOT MARATHON

Umorok is the only type of chilli found in the North Eastern states of India mainly in the Manipur and some neighboring states. The local people know this type of chilli as King Chilli after its extreme hot taste. It is the hottest chilli in the world. This chilli is available mainly in 2-3 districts of Manipur in plenty. 


It is believe that 100 simple chilies equal to only one Umorok. Those people who are living in the hill areas are the main producers of this hottest chilli. The size of this chilli is larger than the normal red chili and it softer than other types of chilli. 


The color of this chilli is light green when immature, then yellowish before mature and totally bright red when it is mature. One of the special popularity of this chilli is its good smell. It has many economic importance and also famous for its medicinal values. 


Recent years there has been a lot of research and every year research finds out more about the healthy benefits of this chili (Umorok). 


Chili will clear your sinuses. After eating chillies your nose starts to run. Therefore this is great to fight off the flu or even hay fever. The hottest chilli in the world (Umorok) and after eating that for a while his hay fever has gone. There has been a lot of research done about all the health benefits of the chilli and so far more than 50 common ailments are said to be cured by eating chilli. 


In the old days it was believed and used to fight of scurvy. Also used to prevent or cure: rheumatism, arteriosclerosis, toothache, stomach-ache, epilepsy, asthma, varicose veins and malaria. 


They are tonic and antiseptic. Stimulate your digestive system and if rubbed on areas of your skin it will stimulate the blood flow and for these reasons have been used also to treat sprains, rheumatic pain in the muscles of the lower back (lumbago) or chilblains (sore or swollen skin) 

Be careful when using because it may cause blistering or dermatitis then used over a longer period of time! 


Chillies (Umorok) do speed up your metabolism and have more vitamin C in them than any other fruit. (Yes chilli is a fruit). Also it is to be noted that hotter the chilli gets the more vitamin C they contain. Apparently the red variety of the Umorok chilli from Manipur contains more than 350x the amount of vitamin C than the average orange.

U Morok powder can be use for the protection of the wild elephant in jungles

The application of the Umorok powder with some sticky liquid to the fencing rope, can protect a home or a tent house in the jungle. When the elephant touch the Umorok applied rope they will run away from place because of its extreme hotness.

Rate of the heat produced by Umorok 


There are a few different ways of measuring the heat of a chilli. The first documented way to measure the heat of a chilli is invented and created by: Wilbur L. Scoville in 1912. He used a panel of people who would taste test the chillies. The sample would be watered down up until the panel could no longer detect any heat.



Hottest part of a Chilli


The hottest part of the Umorok is the flesh (called 'mashingkha' in Meeteilon) around the seeds and the seeds itself. Although the flesh is the hottest part with the highest concentration of capsaicin.  



Preservation of Umorok


You can preserve this chilli by sun drying or by smoking these are the most best method for a long time preservation. But you can also preserve in other methods as follows. 


You can put the chillies in an airtight container or plastic bag in the fridge, this way they will last for a few weeks.
Freeze your chillies, as suggested above, and they will last a few months.
Put the chillies in vinegar, which is a natural preservative. 
Keep product out of the sun and put it in your pantry, this way it will last you for a couple of years.
Or put your chillies in oil same as the vinegar.
Hang them to dry. ( Also very nice as a decoration or create your own chilli earring! ) 


The higher the capsaicin level in a chilli the better it preserves. Capsaicin is a natural preservative and therefore the hotter the chilli the better it keeps.