Jowai, Oct 19: The Dorbar Chnong Maitdeiñ, West Jaiñtia Hills on Tuesday revived the Phet Nangsiang in the village after a gap of more than three decades which is a practice of men carrying sacks of paddy seeds (rice) from the fields to the field owners’ houses. On Tuesday, 14 people took part in the revival day of Phet Nangsiang who lifted sacks of paddy seeds weighing 40 kgs and they ran and walked the distance of more than 1 km in just 20 minutes.

All along the route the participants were accompanied by supporters and cheered by the people witnessing this event till they reached the paddy owners residence.

Following the Phet Nangsiang, various competitions were also organised like weaving of baskets, khnaam (a local cone shape fish trap which can also be used for storing fishes), tug of war, and others. The reviving of the Phet Nangsiang on Tuesday was also witnessed by the Mowkaiaw MLA, Nujorki Sungoh. Nujorki Sungoh expressed happiness and congratulated the Dorbar Chnong Maitdeiñ for reviving this age old practice and hoped that in the coming years other villages will follow suit.

The ancient practice of Phet Nangsiang

Phet Nangsiang was a practice held since time immemorial where field owners would invite men to carry paddy seeds from the fields to the field owners’ houses and then get rewarded where during the early days the person who reaches first is given Re. 1, second place would be given 50 paise and third placed got 25 paise.

Men from other villages, which may be as far as 20-25 kilometres, would come and take part in this practice and carry sacks for kilometres together and compete against one another.

With the availability of vehicles this practice was stopped (more than 30 years ago) because the transportation of paddy seeds is more feasible using vehicles even to nearby villages.