Bishnupriya Manipuri community takes initiative to rejuvete diminishing culture

Agartala, February 17: The Bishnupriya Manipuri community recently organized a semir-cum-cultural programme at the Muktadhara Auditorium here with the goal of rejuveting their diminishing culture.

 The two-day programme, which was organized by the Socio-Cultural Society of Bishnupriya Manipuri, was iugurated by Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar in the presence of the state’s Cultural Affairs Minister Bhanu Lal Saha.

 The main focus of the programme was to generate awareness among the younger generation about the community’s rich cultural heritage.

 Chief Minister Sarkar assured the community of government’s help in preserving their culture and language.

 “For the development of socio-culture, language and education, you people have taken new initiative, and if you need any help from our side, then without any hesitation, please discuss it with us. We, with our limited resources, shall try our best to help you people in your goal for preserving your society, heritage, culture, language and economy,” said Sarkar.

 The Bishnupriya Manipuri are a group of Aryan people living mainly in parts of Assam, Tripura and Bangladesh. The religious customs and traditions of Bishnupriya Manipuris are unique and they speak a language of Indo-Aryan origin which is quite different from Bengali or Assamese.

 “Bishnupriya Manipuri is one of the microscopic communities mainly residing in the north-eastern states (of India) and very few in Bangladesh. We do not have a land of our own, but possess own language, dress and a culture, which is very rich,” said P.K. Shinha, one of the organizers.

 “The community, which is without any infrastructure, is fighting for survival. For the survival of this microscopic community, there is no adequate infrastructure. The Socio Cultural Society of Bishnupriya Manipuri was raised in 2012 for development of this community’s socio-culture and its revival,” he added.

 Towards the 18th century, Vaishvism became very popular in Manipur during the reign of King Bhagya Chandra and as a result Vaishv Palakirtan with Mridanga and Kartalaa became the most prominent influence in Bishnupriya Manipuri cultural activities.

 The programme was organized to exhibit the rich socio-culture of the Bishnupriya Manipuri among the people of the state and especially the youths of the community aiming at reviving they culture in a systematic manner. (ANI)