Sunday, 29 November 2020

Khurkhul

 Hey to you all reading this!!! It has been seven months since I haven't published any blog post. I was stuck at home for these past months, didn't hang out for long. Yes, I sometimes go to my friends' house and hang out with them for a tea or a coffee party. It's CORONA TIME and there are several restrictions and certain SOPs are needed to be followed while moving out at public places. We are needed to take utmost care of ourselves while going out. A mask and a sanitizer are the prerequisite things if we are to move out anywhere from the house. So, I was sitting down and thinking if I have anything to write here for my readers. Then, I just remembered this place, "KHURKHUL" which I had gone for a picnic with my friends. 




Khurkhul is a village in Imphal West district in Manipur. I t is about 20 kms from the heart of Imphal city. The picnic spot we went to has both a place with a number of trees growing and a stream of water. This is the perfect picnic spot for a group of friends who love places with trees and water places. As we reached there, all of us tried to get ready with the vegetables. The menu was chicken, eromba (An ethnic cuisine of Manipur, prepared with dried and fermented fish and locally available vegetables), and salad (A dish containing pieces of food in a mixture, especially with raw vegetables).






We tried to prepare the food on time. All of us became chefs on that day. The curry was not prepared by a single person, it was the hands of all of us. 









Do you know Perook or the Indian pennywort. Its scientific name is Centella asiatica.  It is a medicinal plant. It grows in temperate and tropical swampy areas mostly. I have mentioned the Indian pennywort here because I met a group of girls plucking its leaves at the place. As I grew up in a crowded place in Imphal, I have always wanted to live in a village. I am fascinated to see children play with nature. 


Nature is a tool to get children to experience not just the wider world, but themselves.



It is roads which will take us to our destination. Here, I am reminded with Robert Frost's poem, "The Road Not Taken" with my favourite lines,

 " Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."






I have also mentioned in my earlier posts about my love of water places. This picnic spot too is also a favourite place of mine. All the girls were enjoying and playing in the water.









This was a very enjoyable picnic party with both my seniors and juniors. The spot was an enchanting one with fresh air and clean water. I would love to visit the place again if I am given a chance and learn more about the place.








Tuesday, 28 April 2020

Thoubal, my hometown

When do you call a place as "home away from home"?
I have been residing here at Imphal for quite a long time. My parents work here and we have settled here for long.
But, I was and I am always attracted and had this strong desire to stay at Thoubal, my hometown.
My grandparents, great fathers, my cousin brothers and sisters, my niece and nephews, they all stay there. Whenever I had holidays or school vacations, I would ring up my Baachou, my great father, to come and pick me up. I loved staying there.
Though I have stayed here for long, I always loved staying at Thoubal more. I feel more enjoyable there and I call this as "home away from home".
I can enjoy the beauty of the fields, I loved playing and jumping between the straws in the fields, loved going out to dams and all.

 

Thoubal is a town in Thoubal district of Manipur. It is a peaceful place with rivers, paddy fields, streams, dams, gardens and happy people. It is about 23 kilometres from Imphal.

We have several temples for worship. Some mentions can be made of Arom Ningthou and the Lairembi, Santrik Chankhombi. The Lai Haraoba of  these God and Goddess are usually celebrated in summer.



Let me write on the beauty of these mustard flowers blooming at its best in our paddy fields. We live at Thoubal Athokpam. We are surrounded by these beautiful paddy fields all around. We will be able to see the enchanting yellow flowers blooming usually during February to March. 

Whenever I see these fields, I feel like dancing and blooming among them. It gives me relishing moments when I go there or whenever I cross over them. 

Apart from mustard, the paddy fields grow crops and sometimes vegetables are also planted according to the season.


My brother just sent me recent pictures of our place to help me in my writing and the above picture is how our fields look like during a rainy season.


Among all the outdoors of nature, the river is one among which I adore. Rivers exist not only for me but for the whole world. They unite one place with another. They supply us with water and capture our imaginations. Whenever it rains, the water droplets will find its way to a river, a stream or a lake.



We have a dam located very near to our house. When I was a kid, I used to throw tantrums to  my cousin brothers and sisters to take me there. I was a bad kid but now a good adult. 😄  

I always thought of the basic difference between a dam and a bridge. I simply thought like both are used to cross a river or a lake. But now I have found out the various benefits of dams. 







I along with my friends once went to my hometown after our university classes. It was an unplanned one. 

We enjoyed a lot playing in the fields. Next time, I would like to invite all of my friends to my place. 




I love Thoubal and my family members there. I miss playing among the straws with my friends, I miss my childhood days there.  


MY HOMETOWN... I LOVE YOU AND  I MISS YOU. 

Monday, 27 April 2020

Ukhrul, giving me an Enchanting call to visit

I thought I could write better of this place if I have been there. But, we can write about places we have never been by doing research and talking with people about their experiences there.

I am lucky enough that I have a bunch of friends who have gone to Ukhrul. They have shared most of the beautiful pictures to help me with my writing. 

Ukhrul is a place which have been calling me since a long time. 


Ukhrul is a town in Ukhrul district, Manipur. It is about 84 kilometres from Imphal and is the highest hill station of Manipur. It is mostly dominated by the cheerful indigeneous Tangkhul Nagas.  

It enjoys a pleasant climate with a wet summer and a cold, dry winter. 


Ukhrul is famous for its Shiroi Lily or the Shirui Lily ( Scientific name: Lilium mackliniae ), a pink-white flower, which is found in its natural habitat. It can only be grown on top of the Shirui hills.

Manipur Tourism has recognised Shirui Lily as the State Flower of Manipur. 



Ukhrul is one of a popular Manipur's tourist attraction place. It is popular for its festivities. The chief festivals include Luira (seed sowing festival), Thareo (harvest festival), and Mangkhap (resting feast). Their festivals have a great attraction with their traditional cuisines, songs and dance forms. 




Another popular festival of Ukhrul is the Shirui Lily festival. This festival seeks to spread awareness about the one and only endangered Shirui Lily and to promote Ukhrul as a tourist destination in Manipur.It is celebrated at the time when the flower blooms usually from the last week of May till the second week of June.

 This festival is organised under the Department of Tourism, Government of Manipur,   with an aim to promote tourism and culture of the state. It also aims to bring the different communities of the state under one roof. This is another great opportunity to learn more about the place and its culture.


My friend had been there last year at the Shirui festival and she has shared all her experiences with me.  She told me about the beauty of the place, its pleasant climate and the festival. Another event she enjoyed was the ShiRock, the musical extravaganza of live music performances and competition. This has added me more on my eagerness to go there. Shirui festival is one of my favorite festival celebrated in the state.
 I will surely join this in the next one. 


One of my friend had also been to Khangkhui Cave also called as Khangkhui Mangsor at Ukhrul. She has shared her experiences there. There are altogether 5 caves in the Khangkhui Cave area. These are ancient limestone caves. It is said that this cave was used as a shelter by the local people during the 2nd World War.




Khangkhui cave is one of the best sites to satisfy the wanderlust in you. 

Ukhrul is one of the preetiest place in the state. I am enchanted just by seeing the pictures and listening to stories about the place. Ukhrul has its pleasant climate all throughout the year. 

YES! So, why don't we pack our things once for a trip with friends? And, who is joining with me?

I am ready...




MY SISTER'S WEDDING