Nagaland village builds 5000-capacity makeshift arena

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Jan. 19 (EMN): In yet another example of community effort, Thipuzu village under Phek district has built a makeshift arena in less than 15 working days to host a wrestling meet and the structure can accommodate about 5000 people.

The temporary arena built at the village playground will host the 29th edition of the Chokri Area Wrestling Association (CAWA) which will begin today, on Thursday.

The construction of the arena involved more than 30 local workers (volunteered) and nearly 1000 bamboo poles (locally-sourced for free) among other materials, Veshuzo, management chairman of the wrestling meet, told Eastern Mirror on Wednesday.

Measuring 210×210 feet, the arena was constructed without any blueprint. Other materials used in the structure were aluminium pipe, wood, tarpaulin, greenhouse nets (for roofing) etc. He said that about 1800 metre of green nets, 700 kg of binding wires, 100 kg of tarpaulin (for side covers), and about 50 kg of nails were used to construct the makeshift wrestling arena.

He further informed that the total construction cost was around INR 80,000. 

Prior to constructing the arena, over 200 villagers volunteered to carry wood and bamboo poles from the fields to the village grounds and it took days, he added.

The arena, which is constructed in the middle of the ground, has four entry gates to the arena (two main gates and two mini gates). The remaining space will be used for parking, hotels and shops, it was informed.

Veshuzo said that the makeshift arena is a “first-of-its-kind” in Nagaland.

The structure will also be used to host the 7th edition of Japfüphiki Chokri Baptist Khriesarüü Krotho (JCBKK), a religious conference of Chokri area of Chakhesang tribe and southern area of Angami tribe, scheduled to be held from Jan. 28 to the 30th at Thipuzu village.

The temporary structure will be dismantled after the conference.