Displaced kids find calling in Meitei Eshei, Pung

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Dec 27 : Up-rooted and displaced by the conflict since May 2023 but undeterred, children and young adults at some relief camps are learning the art of Meitei Eshei and Pung.
With just one year of training, they are already performing at weddings and other ritual ceremonies, setting them on a career as artistes who promote and take pride in the State's rich art and culture.
Phuritsabam Nganbi is just 20 years of age. Her family fled Kangpokpi during the conflict in May 2023, and since then they have been staying at the relief camp at Lamboikhong-nangkhong.
Young but talented, Nganbi has quickly learned the ropes of Meitei Eshei. She has recently performed at a wedding ceremony at Shamushang.
Speaking to The Sangai Express, Nganbi said 20 displaced children at the camp are learning Meitei Eshei and Pung from teachers sent by the Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Board.
Teachers of Meitei Eshei and Pung take classes every Sunday from 1 pm to 4 pm, she said.
Her Guru is Chingkham Minoti.
12-year-old Ng Jackson is learning Pung from Oja Senapati and Oja Tomba.
Jackson hails from Motbung Meitei Leikai.
After a year of training, he has performed at Ipa Thoukok Ima Panthoibi Eratpa and is taking part in ritual ceremonies of the Sanamahi Temple Board.
Ksh Yaiphaba (13), L Lanchenba (12), Ksh Rameschandra (12), K Henthoiba (13), Ksh Atiya (10), A Tomthin (11) and T Malemnganba (11) are some of the children learning the art of Pung.
They hail from places including Churachandpur, Motbung and Serou.
Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Board member secretary, Meisnam Sivadutta Luwang said the board started teaching Meitei Eshei and Pung to children at Wangkhei Girls' High School relief camp.
Sivadutta said about a year ago, the relief camp authorities approached the board first with a request to teach the children.
After learning about the children's enthusiasm and interest in the art, the board decided to depute its teachers to the relief camp, he said.
Gradually, more camps approached the board with similar requests, he added.
The teachers of the Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Board are teaching children of five relief camps at present, Sivadutta said.
The five relief camps include ones opened at Wangkhei Girls' High School, Sawombung, Sajiwa, Lamboikhongnangkhong and Thangmeiband.
Sivadutta shared that Oja Indira, Minoti, Inaosana and Nalini are teaching Meitei Eshei while Oja Senapati, Tomba, Angamba and Shamu are teaching Pung.
Oja Shamu also teaches Thang-Ta to the children, he added.
After around one year of training, some of the young artistes have started performing at weddings and other ritual ceremonies, he said. The children have performed at several stages. They have performed excellently at big events at Kangla Uttra Mamang, he added.
"The children of the relief camps are hard-working and dedicated. We at the board are proud that we are able to give them a career and means to earn income," Sivadutta said.
The young and emerging artistes of the relief camps will perform at Ima Imoinu Irat Thouram on December 31. The teachers of the board will continue to guide them in the future, he added.