IMPHAL, October 26: The state Governor’s wife Kiran Jagat today graced the closing function of the “Manipuri Sinnailonda-Leeba” (Reviving traditional appliqué art of Manipur-workshop and exhibition) at the Artistes’ Workshop cum Dormitory, Palace Compound.
Speaking at the function she said that she has for long admired the intrinsic, delicate art and artistic art of weaving and embroidery by the women of Manipur.
“Weaving and embroidery has been an intrinsic part of the rural life in India but Manipur is one of those rare states where it still survives in the village households.
Elaborating on the expertise of the Manipuri women, she said that the delicate blending of colours, the exquisite designs of flowers, leaf, birds, fish and even the more subtle and hidden designs taken from nature should indeed be lauded.
“Their diaphanous phi`s (cloth) are like ethereal songs sung by their imaginations and as exquisitely executed by their hands as in their dancing. Infact I was so struck by its beauty and elegance that my immediate desire was to learn the art.”
“… but alas I realized that I was 20 years too late to learn”, she added.
She continued, “The Meitei cultural tradition of the art of weaving is based on a mythical foundation. The supreme Goddess of the pantheon, Leimarel is said to have introduced the work of weaving as a necessary item of work in the whole course of creation of the social universe”.
“It is also stated that the Goddess Panthoibi introduced the art of weaving by imitating the pattern of weave that a spider applies when it is weaving its web”, she continued.
The state Governor’s wife further informed that the tradition of using the appliqué work on fabric has become uncommon and there is the threat of its becoming extinct from the Meitei tradition.
She further expressed the need for organizing special workshops such as today’s.
29 participants including five male and 24 female were later handed certificates.