Sports and holi celebration in Imphal
Holi is one of the festivals which are celebrated with much gaiety. People throw colors to one another and have fun. In Imphal, people celebrate it for five days. Apart from playing around with colors, one of the important events during these five days is organizing competition in various sports and cultural items at every locality. Sports events are held during day time and the competitions for cultural and literary items are held at evening. Preparations to organize these events begin some ten days before holi. The members of the local club seek donations from the people residing in the locality.
Competition in sports include routine competitions like 100 m race, sack race, spoon and marble race, marathon , musical race, in-out game, blind hit, tug of war for the married women etc. Besides these games, other local sports are also held. Some of these sports are described below:
Competition in sports include routine competitions like 100 m race, sack race, spoon and marble race, marathon , musical race, in-out game, blind hit, tug of war for the married women etc. Besides these games, other local sports are also held. Some of these sports are described below:
- Climbing banana stem: every leaves are cut away from a banana stem and oils and other lubricants are applied to that banana stem. Prize money is kept at the top of that banana stem. Only male compete in this event. The competitors wear only shorts or trousers. Oils are applied to their whole body. The competitors try to reach the top of the stem one by one. The one who manages to reach the top and take away the prize money is declared the winner.
- Pot race: It’s a track event in which competitors’ race while keeping an earthen pot filled with water on their head. The competitors’ should reach the finishing line at the earliest time without spilling the water or breaking the pots. Generally this game is meant for the women.
- Yubi lakpi: Yubi lakpi which translated means coconut snatching is somewhat similar to the game of climbing banana stem. Only male participate in this game wearing shorts. A coconut fruit is made slippery by applying oil. It is kept at the centre of the field. Oil is also applied to the bodies of all the competitors who would then compete among themselves to successfully carry the coconut to the finishing line. It is fun to watch each participant trying to get hold of the coconut while evading the other participants.
- Arithmetic race: it tests the physical ability and the intelligence of the students. The participants race to the other end of the field where desks and benches are kept. A paper containing the arithmetic problems are placed at each desk. The participants have to solve it correctly and race back to the starting point. The one who successfully solves the problems and also reaches the line first is declared winner. Usually this event is divided into three categories. The first category is for the children studying from class I to class III. In the second category, students from class IV to class VI compete. The third is for the students studying in class VII to class IX
- Balloon bursting: A game which interests the children is the balloon bursting game. A balloon is tied at the ankle of each participant. The participant would try to burst the balloon of the other competitors while saving his own balloon. only legs can be used to burst other competitors balloon.
- Housework competition: in this event, one male and one female would make one team. Each team is provided with a few firewood, rice, lentils, a pot, a bucket and other necessary food items. At the start of the game, the male participant would run with the bucket and fetch water from the nearby water source. He would then give it to his partner who would then start the preparation for cooking. The male partner would help with the preparation and cooking to ensure that his team finishes first at the earliest time possible. Another variety of this game is that the male participants would be provided with a needle each and made to stand in line at one end. His female partner would race from the other end with a thread and pass the thread through the eye of the needle and race back to the starting end.
Apart from these games there are many interesting games held at each locality and everyone looks forward to these annual competitions. Every individual from old to young enjoy these sports by participating themselves or cheering the participants. Every year, the organizer works hard to make it a successful event for it fosters a spirit of teamwork and competitiveness while having fun.
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