IMPHAL, Feb 13? Manipur Governor Arvind Dave formally inaugurated the 32nd all manipur shumang leela festival 2004 here at the newly constructed Thokchom Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen,a playhouse for the courtyard play at Hapta Kangjeibung near Shree Shree Gobindajee Temple in Imphal on Thursday.
Lighting the inaugural lamp and speaking on the occasion Governor Dave said," Shumang Leela is one of the most important art forms of Manipuri courtyard theatre. It is as popular as jatra of Bengal, tamasa of Maharashtra, and nautanki of Uttar Pradesh". "Shumang" in Manipuri means courtyard and "leela" stands play. Taken together , therefore ,the term stands for open air performance, generally in the courtyard of residential houses.
He further stated that this art form besides providing entertainment , plays a vital role in creating awareness to the masses about the important social, political and other issues." it's contribution towards eradication of social evils also immensely great and its impacts on the mind of the masses-young and old have been such that it is difficult to separate the Shumang Leela from the manipuri social and cultural tradition" Governor observed,adding that the wheels of development can move faster only when there is peace and harmony and peace is what Manipur need today.
Originally,it started as acomic genre presented before the kings and noblemen which ultimately developed into the present formof courtyard enacted play. For years the 'Shumang Leela' has become a powerful medium for mass education. Stories of Harischandra, Savitri and Satyaban, Ram,Prahlada and episodes from the Mahabharata and Ramayana and other mythologies were successfully staged in this medium.
The arts and culture minister Dr Moirangthem Nara who presided the formal inauguration function of the 19 day long play festival also spoke on the occasion soon after the distribution of the prizes to all the award winning directors,actors,actresses and other supporting role takers belong to both male and female play groups.
Minister Nara taking advantage of the inauguration function called upon the organisers to start the distribution of prizes of this year's competition soon after the compeletion of the festival instead of waiting next round festival. The prizes and citations were handed over the Manipur Governor Arvind Dave.