Mukna is a form of folk wrestling from the north-east Indian state of Manipur. It is popular practise in Imphal, Thoubal and Bishnupur. The game is generally played on the last day of the Lai Haraoba Festival and forms an intrinsic part of the ceremonial functions.
Matches begin with the competitors holding each other's belts, also knows as ningri. The aim is to pin the opponent with their back touching the ground. The winner is called a yatra. Mukna contains many techniques (lou) which require absolute physical fitness and skill to be mastered. Holding the opponent's neck, hair, ear or legs with the hands is not permitted. Any strikes are considered fouls. Anyone who touches the ground with any part of their body besides the feet is declared the loser. Wrestlers are paired in classes, according to weight. The traditional attire not only protects the players' vital points but also helps to identify the pana or the yek, to which the wrestler belongs.
The Sangai Festival is an annual cultural festival organised by Manipur Tourism Department annually from 21-30 November. Even though many editions of this Festival has been celebrated over the past few years with the name of Tourism Festival, since 2010 this has been renamed as the Sangai Festival to stage the uniqueness of the shy and gentle brow-antlered deer popularly known as the Sangai Deer, the state animal of Manipur.
As this festival is being celebrated to promote Manipur as a world class tourism destination, it showcases the best of what the state has to offer to the world in terms of art and culture, hand-loom, handicrafts & fine arts, indigenous sports, cuisines & music, eco & adventure sports as well as the scenic natural beauty of the land.
Source :- Wikipedia
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