As part of the Sangai Festival, 2022, Mao Indigenous War Games known as Lerii Kaphi was inaugurated by J Kumo Sha, MLA, 47-Karong AC at Pudunamei village in Senapati District on Monday.
Lerii kaphi is an indigenous War Game played during the Saleni Festival, post Paddy plantation festival normally in the month of July and it is a well-known game played by one of the renowned Mao Naga villages called Pudunamei village who also performed the same on Monday.
This art of war game is a unique piece of tradition on earth. The word Lerii is derived from the pseudo stem of a plant called ‘Hedychium’ and Kaphi is the act of spearing with the stem of the plant. This cherished and exciting tradition game has been passed down to the present generation by the visionary forefathers since time immemorial.
In reminiscence of the valour and courage of the great grandparents using spears and swords in the olden head-hunting days and also to inculcate the tradition to the future generation, the village practices Lerii Kaphi every year with a great deal of zeal and enthusiasm even to this day. Many traditional practices and rituals are observed for the event to turn into a successful one.
The East Himalayan Cardaon plant (Lerii) represents both spear and sword in this war game. From this game, men folk practice and learn not only to throw the spear to each other but also the know-how to escape from the warfare. From the outcome of the game, the whole village would come to know who ran the fastest, who could throw Lerii the best and who had the best technique of manoeuvring. The best ones are then acknowledged in the Morungs and at public places.
As chief guest, MLA J Kumo Sha stated that the attachment between villages would go a long way in future, adding that the Sangai Festival, celebrated under the theme, “Festival of Oneness”, will give the message that all are one just in different ways.
Stating that he would see others just as a reflection of himself, the MLA called on everyone to see in him just as a reflection of them.
The MLA further stated that Sangai Festival is being celebrated at different places of the state to show the oneness of the state under the leadership of Chief Minister N Biren Singh as the chief minister who has called for prospering as one people in the future.
Expressing confidence that the people of Manipur can make the state a better and peaceful place, the MLA called for promoting such indigenous games where the forefathers were thoughtful to have come up with such concepts and inherited from head hunting periods.
Chief host of the festival, MLA L Dikho, lauded the state Chief Minister N Biren Singh for reaching out to the people in the North, South, East and West and celebrating the Sangai Festival as the ‘Festival of Oneness’. The MLA also informed that other popular games were also introduced in the land recently but, indigenous games like Mao Indigenous War Game (Lerii Kaphi) is a sought-after game of the indigenous people of the state.
The game, which is usually played in maximum numbers of players between the two parties, has been practised in Mao areas and other Naga villages, the MLA informed, adding that it is one of the most attractive games played by the youth during festival which is considered very potential game and that he wants to promote it in the state and national level too.
The MLA also expressed gratitude to the chief minister and the BJP government for including the game in the festival.
Solomon Arow, President of Naga People Organization (NPO) stated that the indigenous war game was included in the Sangai Festival in order to preserve and revive the age-old traditions representing the hill districts of the state. The NPO President lauded the Mao people for having more creativity and knowledge, adding that the Mao people have always taken the lead for the tribals which should be a lesson for other tribes also.
Solomon Arow also appealed to the Mao people under Mao Council to let the Mao Indigenous War Game not be confined only at Pudunamei, cherry blossom at Song Song and Makhel Heritage for Makhel but to make it common for all the Mao. While Nagaland is called as "The land of Festivals", the NPO president urged for calling Senapati as “The land of Festivals” for the younger generations.
The programme commenced with traditional blessings from His Majesty, Pfosiio, Village Chief while Sangai Festival greetings were brought by Dr. Loli Saheni, President, Mao Council.
The programme also had various programmes such as Traditional fire making, Mao traditional horn blowing, Mano traditional warrior act, Thang-ta warrior performances and Mao Indigenous War Games.
Mahesh Chaudhari, DC, Senapati and Arnath Mitra, commanding officer, 33 Assam Rifles also attended the event as special guests.
