ME AND MUSEUM

This article explores the science of Meitei belief system culminating with traditional pre-vaishnavite form of religion. Worship of Pakhangba and beliefs and practices associated with Paphal cult are instrumental in the cultural and social integration of the people of Manipur. The abode of Paphal in sacred places, groves, lakes, mountains, river, caves and forests are merely not a matter of its cultural existence but also prove its biological concern by taking a decisive role in conserving nature.   Paphal representing Ningthouja (royal) clan Religion plays an important role in the growth of human civilization and every society are religious in expressing culturally laid resolution of social and psychological problems. Every society, be it ancient or modern, passes through naturalism and animism. The animistic and naturalistic faiths, those of which are deeply rooted in the beliefs and practices of a society, remain to exist in some forms even if it has undergone c...

* Banita Behera IGRMS, BHOPAL T he remarkable scanty cloth 'Ringa' of Bonda tribe of Odisha is other wise known as 'Nadik'. The Bonda women look exceptional when they are in their traditional wear Ringa . The Bonda with very few population is one of the most primitive tribal group found in Malkangiri and  undivided Koraput districts of Odisha.The long inhabitation of this tribe make this region as Bonda country and the hillock present in this region is known as Bonda hill. The inclination towards their own culture stand them as a most primitive tribe in India . The community gained it's name from 'Bondi Mahadevi'. The clustered settlement pattern and beautiful head touching mud-plastered houses beautifully thatched with Pir grass reflect the nature loving characteristic of the Bondas.With the extraordinary culture of  age gap marriage custom, the beauty of beads together with Ringa wear the women of this  community now beco...

Rushem: a traditional wind instrument Rushem being an important accompaniment of song and dance is played in every festive and ceremonial ocassions among the Kom people and other Kuki-Chin tribal groups of Manipur. It is a wind instrument prepared by master craftsman in a local fashion by using locally available materials like bamboo, dry gourd, bee-wax, powder of conch-shell and feather of Cock. Bitter-gourd ready to harvest for preparing shell  of Rushem Scrapping the upper layer (skin) of the newly harvested gourd Keeping dry-gourd above the hearth for fumigation Process of seasoning bamboo pipes by placing on the hanging platform above the fire place to achieve constant fumigation Segmented and complete view of Rushem November and December is the right time to collect fine props of bamboo to be used as wind pipes of different sizes to be passed inside the body of a gourd from six different holes to produce different tunes in a defined note and scale...

Museum Curators adopt many of the display options to mount objects for curating exhibitions. Items like mannequins, armatures brackets and hanging elements are used for displaying objects in a sensible way to protect the collections from unwanted damages that are liable to  cause mostly by an impractical way of exposition and presentation. Mannequins have been an important item used in the display of textile collections especially the cloths and garments. From the tailoring works of the royal guild to the space of Museum display; from the merchandised shops to the modern fashion industries, Mannequins have been used as an important component for exhibiting garments. The modern Show rooms of garments exhibit different collections of fashionable fabrics to attract the customers. The early forms of Mannequins prepared by wood, wax, papier-mâché and heavy fabric took an arduous level of workmanship to sustain the level of balance keeping the structure to an upright position. These ar...