Referring to the instance of using Manipuri Pony for chariot at Ibudhou Marjing, one of Manipur Sangai Festival 2022 venues, the Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) has strongly condemned such a step of the state government by stating that it lowers the culture of Manipur.
DESAM stated on Saturday that the state government taking the initiative of using Manipuri Pony for chariot in that Sangai Festival as a part and partial of Pony Conservation and revenue generation at the same time is unacceptable. Such exploitative acts against the pony will not help in conservation, but rather help in extinction, they stated.
The organisation said that Manipuri Pony is closely connected with the culture of Meitei and plays a crucial role in Manipuri civilization. It would not be wrong to say that Meitei would be only communities who worship Pony from mythical times and even conduct funerals when it is dead. This creature protected Manipur from mighty rivalry since time immemorial, DESAM stated.
The usage of pony in Manipur is different from other states. As such, using Pony as chariot during Sangai festival, that too in Ibudhou Marjing is very condemnable. Even if the state government wanted to use it as a chariot, they should frame protocol for it, it added and said that using a pony as chariot is disheartening to people who rear pony.
It said that forefathers of the state didn't allow the then British ruler to use Manipuri pony as chariot but the present generation started using Manipuri pony as chariot is almost similar to disrespecting forefathers.
The release said that providing incentive to people who rear pony for conservation, setting up of pony sanctuaries, grazing ground, to conduct Polo tournaments frequently, setting up of Mount Police Force are some of the best strategies to conserve pony.
