Correspondent
KAPAAM, January 30
[dropcap]J[/dropcap]anuary 30 will go down as a red letter day amongst the Moyon community in Manipur’s Chandel district bordering Myanmar. The minority tribal community’s women body formally launches its Diamond Jubilee Celebration (DJC) which is scheduled to be held in January 2015 by introducing its traditional sarong and shawl for the celebration.
Dr. Gina Shangkham, speaking to media persons, said that the move to organise the meet was initiated in order to preserve and promote their Moyon culture and also to commemorate the historic 75 anniversary of Moyon Women Organisation (MWO) or Bujuur Shanuw Ruwrkhah (BSR).With the initiative of late Cr Berang, MWO was formed at Khungjuur (khongjon) village in Chandel district in 1940, she added. Former president of Naga Women Union, Dr. Gina was speaking to media at the beautiful foothills of the Moyon village called Kapaam or Komlathabi in Manipur’s Chandel district. The venue is located about 55 km south of Imphal.
Though the Moyons or ‘Bujuur’ are a minority in population, they have distinct history, land, territory, governing, economic, social, religious practices, dresses, folk songs and dances etc. The Moyon population is barely 5000 in Manipur. They also inhabit the Namlun village in Myanmar.
The World War II and subsequent complete conversion of the community into Christianity since 1922 onwards has impacted the life style of the Moyons. The changes have impacted social priorities so much so that the community has realized the need to revive and preserve the fast dying traditional art and craft .The MWO is also trying to revive the traditional dress and ornaments which were fast disappearing, according to Cr Shining, president of MWO or BSR.
Not surprisingly, the diamond jubilee celebrations on the theme “Building our homes for posterity through culture” will provi de the much needed platform for such an awareness.
The colourful Moyon sarong also known as Tudeen Sarong or Inih I and peen (traditional shawl) in their local tongue were also formally introduced to the jubilee celebration launching gathering by the Sub-Divisional Officer Chandel Killu Sivakumar Naidu in presence of who’s who of MWO. The sarong or Inih originally woven by Moyon women of Heigrutampak village however came in for a few changes.
To commemorate the occasion, a fresh design to the Inih has been conceptualized by R Florence Moyon and Cr Leiningam Moyon.
