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Sagol kāngjei

Meetei Mayek
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Sagol Kangjei (Meitei: ꯁꯒꯣꯜ ꯀꯥꯡꯖꯩ, romanized: sagol kāngjei, lit. 'horse hockey') (also Sakol Kangchei,[1] Shakol Kangchei, Shagol Kangjei[2]) is a traditional Meitei ball sport played on horseback with a long-handled stick. The sport, also known as Manipuri polo, is a predecessor of modern international polo.

Sagol kangjei
The illustration of the traditional Meitei game of Sagol Kangjei in a postage stamp of India
NicknamesGame of Kings, Horse Hockey, Sakol Kangchei, Shakol Kangchei, Shagol Kangjei
First playedc. 3100 BCE
Characteristics
Mixed-sexno
Typeequestrian sport
Presence
Country or regionManipur, India
Olympicno
World Championshipsyes
Paralympicno
World Gamesno
Marjing Polo Statue, the world's tallest statue of a polo player, dedicated to Meitei polo deity Marjing, built in the sport's birthplace, shown during the G20 summit.[3]

History and myth

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Manipuri polo is one of the world's oldest sports, with some historians claiming it was first played c. 3100BCE in the ancient Meitei kingdom of Kangleipak.[4] Sagol kāngjei is a traditional Meitei form of polo and the ancestor of the modern game.[5] In Meitei mythology and folklore, sagol kāngjei was played by the gods led by Marjing and Thangjing.[6][7]

In the Cheitharol Kumbaba, the Royal Chronicle of Kangleipak, sagol kāngjei was not only a sport, but used as an instrument of diplomacy, politics, and palace intrigue.[8] According to the Kangjeirol (Meitei: ꯀꯥꯡꯖꯩꯔꯣꯜ), another ancient Meitei language text, polo was played during the reign of King Ningthou Kangba (1405-1397/1359 BCE) of Kangleipak. Kangba organized a polo matches to be played by his officials.[8][9] During reign of King Khagemba (1597-1652 CE) sagol kāngjei was popularised and the rules were revised.[8]

Sagol kāngjei was introduced to the British officers at Cachar, Assam by Sir Chandrakirti Singh, the then ruler of Manipur.[8][4]

Description

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Sagol kāngjei is a form of polo, a ball game resembling hockey,[8] played on a Manipuri pony (Meitei: ꯁꯒꯣꯜ, romanized: sagol), a traditional breed standing 11-13 hands, with a long-handled stick or mallet (ꯀꯥꯡꯖꯩ, kāngjei).[5][6] The kāngjei is made of seasoned cane. It has a narrow angled wooden head, which is fixed at its striking end.[8] The polo ball is solid, made of bamboo root[10] and is generally 10cm in diameter.[11]

 
Sagol Kangjei – Polo in Manipur

The game is played between two teams of seven players, which are referred to as the northern team and the southern team. Both of the teams have seven players each. The playing field is usually rectangular in shape, around 210 yards (190 m) long and 100 yards (91 m) wide. Players may only strike the ball with their mallets. There are no goal posts. A goal is scored when the ball crosses the end line.[8]

Sangol kāngjei is one of the three types of Meitei kāngjei (or hockey), with the other two types being foot hockey (ꯈꯣꯡ ꯀꯥꯡꯖꯩ, khong kāngjei) and hockey with wrestling (ꯃꯨꯛꯅꯥ ꯀꯥꯡꯖꯩ, muknā kāngjei).[8][6]

Uniforms and equipment

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Players typically wear short-sleeved jackets in their team's colours and white dhotis tucked up above their knees. A traditional Manipuri turban, or kokyet, held by a khadangchet completes the look. Leg guards (khongyon) are used to protect the shins and the calves and more guards (khuning khang) protect the heels and the ankles, but the players' feet are bare.

Saddles are made of decorated leather, attached to a wooden frame called ukang khe. The stirrup has a flat base with a narrow foothold. A snaffle bit (chanam caru) is used.[8]

International competitions

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Manipur International Polo attracts teams from nations including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, Haiti, India, Kenya, Mongolia, Morocco, Poland, South Africa, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States and Uruguay, competing with the team of players from Manipur.[12][13][14][15][16]

The Manipur Statehood Day Women's Polo Tournament is the first and the only international women's polo tournament organized in India.[17][18][19]

Some important sites

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Two of the world's oldest polo grounds are the Inner Polo Ground, located inside Kangla Fort in Imphal and the nearby Imphal Polo Ground. Historically, the Inner Polo Ground was reserved for Meitei royals and nobles.[20][21][22][23]

The Marjing Polo Complex is a sports complex, dedicated to Marjing, the Meitei god of horses and polo. It was built in the hilltop of the Heingang Ching, the mythical abode of Marjing.[24][25] It includes the Marjing Polo Statue, is the world's tallest statue of a mounted polo player.[26] It was built to commemorate the Manipur as the birthplace of modern polo.[27][28][29]

Also on Heingang Ching, there is a shrine dedicated to the god Marjing, where devotees, including polo players, offer prayers, and perform rites and rituals in his honor.[30] Devotees offer polo mallets, balls,[31] and replicas of polo ponies to the god,[32] making the temple a storehouse of small, white horse figurines, red and white polo mallets, and pictures of horses.[33][34]

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Discovery of Kangleipak 1". Retrieved 2023-12-10. ...Polo (Kanglei indigenous people called Sakol Kangchei)...
  2. ^ Press, Imphal Free (2014-09-28). "Manipuri Ponies are critically endangered – KanglaOnline". Retrieved 2023-12-10. ... the rally was carried out to save the Manipuri pony from extinction because it has given an identity to Manipur through Shagol Kangjei and Polo.
  3. ^ "Excursion to historic and places of tourists interest marks the second day of G20 delegates visit to Manipur". pib.gov.in. Press Information Bureau (PIB), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  4. ^ a b Aldous, David (2014-06-17). International Turf Management. Routledge. p. 9. ISBN 978-1-317-84491-4. The early sport of polo, which also involves horse and rider, had its origins in Manipur State, India, circa. 3100 BC when it was played at Sagol Kangjei. Polo was introduced to England from India in 1869 and now has a keen following in the United States, Argentina and Australia.
  5. ^ a b Prakash, Col Ved (2007). Encyclopaedia of North-East India. APD. p. 1558. ISBN 978-81-269-0706-9.
  6. ^ a b c Agarwal, M. K. (2012). From Bharata to India: Volume 1: Chrysee the Golden. Universe. p. 351. ISBN 978-1-4759-0765-0.
  7. ^ Devi, Dr Yumlembam Gopi (2019-06-16). Glimpses of Manipuri Culture. LP. p. 21. ISBN 978-0-359-72919-7.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Sagol Kangjei". Indian Culture. Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  9. ^ Lisam, Khomdan Singh (2011). Encyclopaedia Of Manipur (3 Vol.). GPH. p. 701. ISBN 978-81-7835-864-2.
  10. ^ Ghosh, G. K. (2008). Bamboo: The Wonderful Grass. APH. p. 108. ISBN 978-81-313-0369-6.
  11. ^ "Manipuri Polo". e-pao.net. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  12. ^ "Manipur lift Polo International trophy". www.thepeopleschronicle.in.
  13. ^ "Manipur USA win in Manipur Polo International". UNI India.
  14. ^ "Manipur lifts Polo International Trophy defeating England". UNI India.
  15. ^ "India B wins Manipur International polo tournament – The New Indian Express". www.newindianexpress.com. November 2017.
  16. ^ "11th Manipur International Polo Tournament". POLO+10 The Polo Magazine. 19 December 2017.
  17. ^ "Manipur celebrates Statehood Day with first international women's polo tournament". DNA India. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  18. ^ "1st Manipur Statehood Day Women Polo Tournament 20160114". Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  19. ^ Correspondent (2010-09-15). "1st Manipur Statehood Day Women's Polo". assamtribune.com. Retrieved 2023-12-11. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  20. ^ "Manipuri Pony". International Museum of the Horse. These consist of the Manung Kangjeibung (inner polo ground), within the ramparts of the Kangla Fort, where only royalty and noblemen were allowed to play. This may be the world's oldest polo ground.
  21. ^ "Polo Ground, Imphal".
    —"Exploring The World's Oldest Polo Ground". 2022-01-05.
  22. ^ "Manipur: The place where polo was born?". Hindustan Times. 2014-12-21.
  23. ^ "Exploring the World's Oldest Polo Ground". 2019-03-25.
  24. ^ NEWS, NE NOW (2018-03-25). "Manipur CM N Biren Singh inaugurates Marjing Polo Complex in Imphal". NORTHEAST NOW. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  25. ^ "Chief Minister Biren inaugurates Marjing Polo Complex; says Polo ground will also be constructed at the hillock shortly". Impact. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  26. ^ "World's tallest polo statue to be constructed in Mnp | Nagaland Post". 2016-04-28. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  27. ^ "Manipur: Union Home Minister Amit Shah Unveils 122-feet-tall Polo Statue In Imphal | Ukhrul Times". 2023-01-06. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  28. ^ "120 feet Polo Statue to be Build [sic] in Manipur, the Birthplace of the Sport". News18. 2022-07-05. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  29. ^ Today, North East (2022-11-17). "Construction Of Much-Awaited 120-Ft-Tall Effigy Of 'Sagol Kangjei' Completed; Upholds Historical Significance Of Polo Sport". Northeast Today. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  30. ^ "Imphal tourist park coming up at birth place of polo".
  31. ^ "Recreational Park – Manipur Tourism". Government of Manipur. Retrieved 2023-11-22. Situated near the heritage center Ibudhou Marjing at Heingang, the complex serves as an offering to the God of the Chenglei, Marjing, to whom the Kangjei (Polo-stick) along with the ball (Kangdrum) are continued to be offered during worship. Marijing befits as the centre of polo tourism.
  32. ^ "Marjing Complex, Heingangching" (PDF). manipur.gov.in. Government of Manipur. p. 15. At Heingangching, there is the temple of Marjing where every year replica of pony and polo mallet is offered to the Lord.
  33. ^ "How a polo tour in India is helping to protect a rare breed of ponies". GBH. 2017-01-13. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  34. ^ "How a polo tour in India is helping to protect a rare breed of ponies".

Further reading

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sagol Kangjei.
 
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Polo in Manipur.
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