Culture

'Manipuri ‘phanek’ designed with state emblem an act of disgrace'

The All Manipur Arts and Culture Students’ Union (AMACSU) on Monday banned the ‘Phanek Mayek Naiba’ (a traditional wrap-around) with the state emblem Kanglasha on its border, saying it disgraces the culture of the Manipur society.

ByIFP Bureau

Updated 16 Jun 2020, 9:14 am

(PHOTO: Facebook/Amacsu Amacsu)
(PHOTO: Facebook/Amacsu Amacsu)

The phanek as it is called by the Meiteis in Manipur is a traditional wrap-around worn by women not only in the state but also in other parts of the Northeast region. The phanek worn by the women in Manipur comes in varied colours in plains or and in patterns, mostly with borders running around the edge or helmIt is called by many other names particular to a tribe in the region. Some of the phaneks with special weaves and designs are quite highly priced. The embedded design of the state emblem called Kanglasha in this traditional wear of the womenfolk in the state has now drawn flak and an organization has called for a ban on such phaneks called Phanek Mayek Naiba.

The All Manipur Arts and Culture Students’ Union (AMACSU) on Monday banned the ‘Phanek Mayek Naiba’ (a traditional wrap-around) with the state emblem Kanglasha on its border, saying it disgraces the culture of the Manipur society.

The AMACSU said in a release that such activity should be strictly checked and action should be taken by the government and the public alike. This is also an act of disgrace in front of other states and culture, it stated.

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Keeping the state emblem below the knee, around the foot area shows disrespectfulness to the emblem, the AMACSU reasoned.

The Home department and department of Industries and Textiles should take up necessary action against the one who started the activity, it stated.

The said design is banned and henceforth people selling, buying and wearing will be dealt under the appropriate law, it added.

Meanwhile, the AMACSU lauded the department of Art and Culture for taking up timely action against one Tamanna Rehman who misinformed facts on Manipuri dance.

The Department of Art and Culture and JN Manipur Dance Academy jointly took up the action, it stated. The apology letter was forwarded to AMACSU, it added.

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AMACSU also stated that dance performer Tamanna Rehman has apologised for her remarks on Manipuri dance.

In an apology letter, Tamanna Rehman stated that she felt sorry for the poor word choice and misleading the people. She did not intend to hurt the feelings of anybody or any community during her interview, the letter read.

She added that the interview exceeded the allotted time frame taking more than three hours with audio problems at the end. The wrong statement was made hastily at the end when the presenters wanted to end the Facebook live, she stated. She also stated that she made an apology post in Facebook after the incident, it added.

 

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phanekmanipuri phanekAll Manipur Arts and Culture Students’ UnionAMACSUPhanek Mayek Naiba

IFP Bureau

IFP Bureau

IMPHAL, Manipur

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