Kangla Sanathong

The Kangla Sanathong (Meitei for 'The Royal Entrance to the Kangla'), also known as the Kangla Gate[lower-alpha 1], is the western entrance gate to the Kangla Fort in Imphal West district of Kangleipak (Meitei for 'Manipur').

This article is about the western entrance to the Kangla Palace. For the eastern entrance, see Kangla Nongpok Thong.

Kangla Sanathong
(Kangla Gate)
The western (outer) and the eastern (inner) views of the Kangla Sanathong in 2008
Alternative names
  • Nongchup Kangla Sanathong
    (Meitei for 'Western Kangla Gate')
  • Nongchup Sanathong
    (Meitei for 'Western Gate')
EtymologyGolden door of the Kangla
General information
Architectural styleMeitei architecture
LocationKangla Fort, Imphal West district, Manipur
AddressKangla Fort, Imphal West district, Manipur
Town or cityImphal
Country
Coordinates24.807°N 93.939°E / 24.807; 93.939
OwnerGovernment of Manipur

Etymology

In Meitei language (officially called Manipuri language), "Sanathong" (Meitei: ꯁꯅꯊꯣꯡ) literally means "the golden door",[1] in which "sanā" (Meitei: ꯁꯅꯥ) means gold[2] and "thong" (Meitei: ꯊꯣꯡ) means door.[3]

Developments

LED display board

During June 2019, Nongthombam Biren Singh, the Chief Minister of Manipur, launched an LED display board at the Kangla Western Gate. Operated by the "Leibak Information Technology Pvt Ltd, Khurai Thoidingjam Leikai", the LED board displays advertisements and information about the Kangla and other news.[4]

Statue of King Nara Singh
Main article: Statue of Meidingu Nara Singh

On 15 June 2022, the Government of Manipur, led by Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh, unveiled the bronze statue of Meidingu Nara Singh, built at the Kangla western entrance gate in Imphal.[5][6][7][8][9]

Replicas

During June 2017, the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (IGRMS) of Bhopal built a replica of the Kangla Gate. To revitalise the vanishing but valuable cultural traditions, the IGRMS museum added the "Kangla Gate" in the entrance gate of the Open-air Exhibition Tribal Habitat of the museum. The grand Kangla Gate in IGRMS was crafted by a group of seven traditional artisans from Manipur led by Ibomcha Meitei.[10] According to "The Free Press Journal", the number of traditional artisans was fifteen.[11]

Exhibition

During October 2021, a model of the Kangla Sanathong (Royal Kangla Gate) was exhibited in the 72nd online exhibition series of the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (IGRMS). Kept in the Tribal Habitat Open Air Exhibition of the IGRMS museum, it was displayed online with the informative descriptions including photographs and videos.[12]

Flag off events

Night Plaza – Imphal Evenings

During October 2017, at the western Kangla Gate, Nongthombam Biren Singh, the Chief Minister of Manipur, opened the first evening of "Imphal Evenings", a night plaza in Imphal.[13]

Seven-nation tour

In August 2019, in the Western Kangla Gate, Karam Shyam, the Consumer Affairs Food And Public Distribution Minister of the Government of Manipur, flagged off the international cycling trek of Ji Ingobi Chongtham, a 21 year old cyclist of Manipur, for his 220-day seven-nation tour of different South Asian countries, including Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Singapore.[14]

E-Rickshaw roadshow

On 19 June 2022, Nongthombam Biren Singh, the Chief Minister of Manipur, flagged off an E-Rickshaw roadshow at Western Gate of Kangla in Imphal.[15]

Relief Assistance & Disaster Response Team

On 27 June 2022, at the Kangla gate, Nongthombam Biren Singh, the Chief Minister of Manipur, flagged off the "Relief Assistance & Disaster Response Team" for the flood-affected people of Assam. Along with the relief materials consisting of 135 quintals of rice, 102 bags of dal, 120 bags of salt, 120 boxes of mustard oil, 40 personnels of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were also sent for rescue operations.[16]

Social and religious functions

Interfaith prayer event

On 7 June 2021, at the Western Kangla Gate, an interfaith prayer event was organised under the supervision of Nongthombam Biren Singh, the Chief Minister of Manipur, to attain divine healings and protections from COVID-19 in Manipur. The prayer event was participated by the representatives from Sanamahism (Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Board), Christianity (Archbishop Most Rev. Dominic Lumon, All Manipur Christian Organisation), Hinduism (priests from Shree Shree Govindajee Temple Board), Islam (Jamiat-Ul-Ulema), Tingkao Ragwang Chapriak, Sikhism (Giani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee), Jainism (Shree Digambar Jain Samaj) and Kabui religion (Kabui Poupei Chapriak Fom).[17][18]

Yaoshang torch lit up events
Further information: Yaoshang
Meitei horse riders leading the way to lit the torch for the sportive festival on the first day of Yaoshang during March, 2014
Meitei youths coming to the Kangla Fort to lit the torch for opening the five-day sportive festival during Yaoshang during March, 2014

During the heights of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2022, the Department of Archaeology of the Government of Manipur allowed the opening of all the three entrance gates of the Kangla, including the Kangla western gate. All the three grand doors were opened because of a large number of NGOs and clubs visiting the Kangla Fort to lit torches for the Yaoshang festival. Five representative members of each association and organization were allowed to enter either of the three gates on 18 and 19 March 2022, from 7 am to 4 pm.[19][20]

See also

Notes
  1. It is also known "Kangla Gate" because it is the most popular one among all the gates of the Kangla.

References
  1. Muthukumaraswamy, M. D.; Kaushal, Molly (2004). Folklore, Public Sphere, and Civil Society. NFSC www.indianfolklore.org. p. 69. ISBN 978-81-901481-4-6.
  2. Sharma, H. Surmangol (2006). "Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary (Meaning of "Sanā")". dsal.uchicago.edu. University of Chicago. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  3. Sharma, H. Surmangol (2006). "Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary (Meaning of "Thong")". dsal.uchicago.edu. University of Chicago. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  4. Samom, Sobhapati (26 June 2019). "Manipur chief minister leads mass plantation drive at Kangla Fort". NORTHEAST NOW. Retrieved 27 September 2022. N Biren Singh also launched an LED display board run by Leibak Information Technology Pvt Ltd, Khurai Thoidingjam Leikai at the western gate of Kangla. The LED board will display advertisement and information related to Kangla and other information including news.
  5. "Maharaja Narasingh's bronze statue unveiled: 29th aug14 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  6. "Manipur CM unveils statue of King Narasingh". uniindia.com.
  7. "Meidingu Narasingh statue unvieled". Pothashang News. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  8. "Inaugurated a statue of the then king of Manipur, Nara Singh at Kangla". Citizen Radio Manipur. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  9. "CM inaugurates Andro infrastructure, unveils Narasingh's statue: 16th jun22 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  10. Pioneer, The. "Kangla Gate of Manipur being built at IGRMS". The Pioneer. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  11. "Bhopal: Manipuri 'Kangla Gate' coming up at IGRMS". Free Press Journal. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  12. Pioneer, The. "IGRMS exhibits Royal Kangla Gate 'Kangla Sanathong' in 72nd online exhibition series". The Pioneer. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  13. KanglaOnline (3 October 2017). "Imphal comes alive to Night Plaza on first evening ! – KanglaOnline". Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  14. "Manipur cyclist on seven-nation tour". www.telegraphindia.com. Telegraph India. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  15. "Manipur CM N Biren Singh Flagged off an E-Rickshaw Roadshow at Western Gate of Kangla in ..." LatestLY. 20 June 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  16. "Manipur CM Flags-Off Relief Assistance & Disaster Response Team For Flood-Hit Assam – Northeast Today". 27 June 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  17. Ajit, Sh. "Interfaith prayer to heal from Covid-19 held at Kangla Gate - Imphal Times". www.imphaltimes.com. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  18. Service, THJ News (7 June 2021). "Interfaith prayer to heal from COVID-19 held at Kangla Gate". The Hills Journal. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  19. "Kangla gates will open for Yaoshang sports to lit torch". Pothashang News. 15 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  20. "Kangla gate entry". www.thesangaiexpress.com. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
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