Kang Shanaba
Kang Shanaba (ꯀꯥꯡ ꯁꯥꯅꯕ) or Kang Sannaba (ꯀꯥꯡ ꯁꯥꯟꯅꯕ), literally "playing the kang" or "the game of kang", is an indigenous Meitei game,[1] a form of indoor game played with a round or oval object called "kang" which is the seed of a creeper,[2] which can be thrown on the surface of the ground. It is usually played on the smooth earthen floors of traditional houses and temple courtyards. The game is considered sacred and is believed to have been played by the deities, especially during the Meitei lunar new year, known as Cheiraoba (First day of Sajibu month) until the Rath Yatra festival (Kang Chingba).[3][4]
 Traditional Kang used in the game | |
| Nicknames | Game of Kang; Playing the Kang |
|---|---|
| First played | Ancient times |
| Characteristics | |
| Contact | No |
| Team members | 7 players per side |
| Equipment | Kang (round or oval seed), Chekphei, Lamtha |
| Venue | Earthen floors of traditional houses and temple courtyards |
| Presence | |
| Country or region | Manipur, India |
Origin
Mythology
The Meiteis believe that Kang was first played by seven Lainingthous (deities) and seven goddesses called Leimarens (female deities) to celebrate the creation of the earth and the beauty of the rising Sun and Moon. The word "Kang" comes from the Manipuri word "Kangba", meaning to begin.[4][1][5]
The game symbolized the start of a new life after the earth was made. The Lainingthous and Leimarens played seven rounds, with the goddesses winning all seven times.[4][1][5]
They used a round object called Kangkhil, which is a seed from a big climbing plant, in the game. This gave the goddesses an advantage. The gods felt sad, so to help them win, Pakhangba introduced an oval-shaped Kang for the Leimarens.[4][1][5]
According to the Royal Chronicle
According to the Royal Chronicle, Cheitharon Kumbaba, Kang Tharo Shanaba started during King Loitongba's rule in AD 1122.[6] One afternoon during the Cheiraoba (Meitei new year), King Loitongba was walking in his royal courtyard. He saw two Kangkhil seeds resting in a corner. He threw one seed a short distance away, then picked up the other seed and tried to hit the first one. He kept trying to hit the target over and over.[7][1][5]
This became a fun game for King Loitongba, and he shared it with his family and others. It brought him joy and interest. He remembered similar indoor games played by his ancestors and decided to call this new way of playing with Kangkhil seeds "Kang Tharo Sanaba".[7][1][5]
On the request of the Queen, the king allowed women to played but in a condition that the women team should include two men players.[7]
Players
The game of Kang consists of seven players[8] on each side with their position names as:[7][5]
- Matai Achouba (Taijao),
- Pan-ngakpa
- Chekpheitanba-Yet (Matai Mathang-Yet)
- Langjei
- Chekpheitanba-Oi (Matai Mathang -Oi)
- Lamthatanba (Anompham)
- Matai Khutshi
The Meiteis believe that the court where Kang is played represents life's journey. The seven players on each team stand for the seven days of the week. Each side has eight Chekphei and seven Lamtha Kangkhils for the seven players, making 15 Kangkhuls per team. Together, both teams represent 30 days, symbolizing a full lunar month. This shows the passing of days, months, and years in life. Every player shows different daily habits in their own way.[3][8][5]
To score, two Chekpheis are used. The first Chekphei means "Darkness", and the second means "Day". When the day begins, each player moves the Lamtha along their path (Kangkhul) in the right direction. If the Kang, a flat tool used in the game, crosses the final line, it means crossing life's final stage. The player who does this is considered "Dead" or "Shiba" for that round.[3][8][5]
When there are two tracks next to the "Matais", after hitting, the Kang deflects to the left; this is called "Hanba". If it crosses the last boundary with three tracks in the middle, it is also called ''Hanba''; if not, it is called "Handaba".[3][8][5]
Role of Women in Kang
Kang play was traditionally participated in by both boys and girls in the past. In these performances, boys typically occupied the outer four positions while the three roles, including Chekphei and Langjei, were taken by women.[9][8]
Such matches were organized either within the community or during special occasions. However, in 1980, an all-women Kang tournament was held at the temple of Lord Ramji Prabhu in Imphal. This tournament is now held annually and is organized by the All Manipur Women Kang Association, which was founded in 1982.[9][8]
Kang Tharo Sannaba for Children
Children enjoy playing Uri-kang, thus it came to be known as "Anganggi Kang Tharo Sannaba".[10]
The game is played on a flat surface by two players or two teams, but it can also be played alone. Two lines are drawn about ten feet apart. The game starts with an Urikang placed on one line, with its wide side facing the opposite team if there is one. The player rolls their Kang toward a target on the ground. As the Kang rolls, the player follows it and tries to hit it with their hand. The rolling Kang must not cross the line, even if it gets close to the target. The Kang is about three lums wide (around ten khudups) and six lums long (about twenty khudups), but these sizes can change depending on the space available.[10]
Lines called Leeris are marked with small ropes to set the game's boundaries. The main lines in this game are Lamtha Leeris and Kangpha Leeris. Each court has eight Chekphei Kangkhuls and seven Lamtha Kangkhuls, which show where the seven players should stand.[10]
Development of Kang
Over time, the game changed and improved. The name "Kang" comes from Kangkhil, which means the seed of a plant called Kangli. Later, the Uri-kang or Kangkhil was replaced by round pieces made of wood for regular people and ivory for royalty.[1][3]
After that, the round Kang was replaced by an oval-shaped piece made from buffalo horns, tortoise shells, and other materials. Around 1851, during Raja Chandrakirti's rule, the game was improved with a set playing area, clear rules, and a team called Kangkhut with seven players. The newest version is an egg-shaped piece made from lac and similar materials.[1][6]
Organizations
In Manipur, there are three groups that organize tournaments and manage the game:
- The All Manipur Kang Association, started in 1952; the All Manipur Kang Control Board, set up in 1972.[9]
- The All Manipur Women Kang Association, formed in 1982.[9][8]
The All Manipur Kang Association updated their rules in 1960, creating a standard version of Kanglon used across the state. In 1972, the Manipur Kang Control Board was formed with slightly different rules. To create a common set of rules for Kanglon, the Manipur Kang Federation was established in 1989. This led to changes in the rules of both the All Manipur Kang Association and the Control Board, combining them into what is now called the Federation Rules of 1989.[9]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Kang Shanaba 1. e-pao.net. Retrieved 2025-11-22.
- ↑ Sanajaoba, Naorem. Manipur, Past and Present: The Heritage and Ordeals of a Civilization (in en) (1988)Mittal Publications. p. 286, 303. ISBN 978-81-7099-853-2.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Traditional Sports in India. sports.indiapress.org. Retrieved 2025-11-23.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Indoor Game of Kang 1. e-pao.net. Retrieved 2025-11-22.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 Tensuba, Keerti Chand. Genesis of Indian Tribes: An Approach to the History of Meiteis and Thais (in en) (1993)Inter-India Publications. p. 175-180. ISBN 978-81-210-0308-7.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Singh, E. Ishwarjit. Manipur, a Tourist Paradise (in en) (2005)B.R. Publishing Corporation. ISBN 978-81-7646-506-9.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Indoor Game of Kang 2. e-pao.net. Retrieved 2025-11-23.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 Kang Shanaba- Manipur – Bharatiya Khel (in en-US). Retrieved 2025-11-23.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Kang Shanaba 2. e-pao.net. Retrieved 2025-11-23.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Indoor Game of Kang 3. e-pao.net. Retrieved 2025-11-23.
External links
- Singh, Kh. Tolhal. Kang (in Manipuri) (1962)Digital Library of India.