Sendra island in Loktak lake
The beautiful Loktak Lake has a
ring of island-hills in the middle which was once used for penal settlement
during the British occupation. Thanga, Karang and Ithing are some of them. A
Tourist Home is managed by the state government at Sendra for catering to the
needs of visitors who would like to bask in the quintessential beauty of the
lake. Rare water birds like gadwall, pink-head duck, cotton-tail duck,
whistling teal, night heron and mallard etc., inhabit the lake during the
winter season. It would be a delight for ornithologists to hear their
antiphonal calls.
The Loktak Lake in southern Manipur covering an area of 27 sq. miles is one of the largest fresh water lakes in the north east India. The peculiarity of the lake is that it is dotted with floating huts erected on phumdi which is made of tangled reeds, water hyacinth and grass mixed with humus. The largest phumdi is inside the Park.
The Loktak Lake in southern Manipur covering an area of 27 sq. miles is one of the largest fresh water lakes in the north east India. The peculiarity of the lake is that it is dotted with floating huts erected on phumdi which is made of tangled reeds, water hyacinth and grass mixed with humus. The largest phumdi is inside the Park.
A night spent at one such hut,
among fisher folks, amidst the watery environment, enchanted by the silvery
sheen of the moonlight, is indeed a lifetime’s experience. The serene beauty is not disturbed even by the dazzle of electricity. The dim flicker of the
kerosene lamps used by the local fishermen creates visions of eerie shadows in
the dark and cast a magic spell over the awe struck visitor.
A couple of kilometres away from
Moirang lies the famed Keibul Lamjao National Park, the abode of the dancing
deer called Sangai (cervus eldi eldi). This state animal of Manipur has gracefully curved antlers and dark brown coat and is an endangered species. Like the poor fishermen the habitat of the animal is on phumdi. Seen from the watch tower the park looks like a vast grazing field. But the appearance is deceptive. It literally floats on the inky waters of the lake and hence the epithet 'the floating park'.
sunset time at Loktak lake
The market at Moirang is entirely
manned by women clad in phanek (which looks like a sarong version of Malaysia).
Local delicacies like soibum (fermented bamboo shoot slice), yongchak (fruit
pod of parkia javanica) and paan (colocasia) are very much in demand. In the
rainy season the water chestnut called heikak which is very rich in carbohydrate
literally floods the market. A tasty and rare species of indigenous fish,
pengba (osteobrama balangeri), is sold occasionally. Needless to say, it is a
state fish now.
In the summer, Lai Haraoba
festival of Lord Thangjing is held every year. This is an occasion for flaunting
the artistic skills by young boys and girls who enact the immortal Khamba
Thoibi dance. The costume and the graceful movements are unique by themselves.
For any jaded soul hungry for
unruffled rest, wanting to savour the peaceful serenity, the floating hut is
worth trying. In the twilight the sky slowly turns into a canopy of pearls and
diamonds. The cooing of waterfowls at that forlorn hour would even make a
desolate anchorite feel the pang of solitude. Far from the madding crowd of Imphal
and an ideal spot for picnicking the floating hut perhaps is another feather in
the beautiful cap of mystic Moirang.
Konjengbam Kameshore
(Courtesy: Eastern Panorama; Shillong, July
1996)
N.B. The writer is not responsible for use or abuse of this article along with writer's name in any form, manner, site whatsoever by anybody.
Konjengbam Kameshore
Imphal
Dt.20.01.2015
N.B. The writer is not responsible for use or abuse of this article along with writer's name in any form, manner, site whatsoever by anybody.
Konjengbam Kameshore
Imphal
Dt.20.01.2015
