imported>Auric: /* Mythological and religious associations */

2020-06-10T11:55:29Z

Mythological and religious associations

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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2018}}
'''Yubi lakpi''' is a seven-a-side [[traditional football]] game played in [[Manipur]], [[India]], using a [[coconut]], which has some notable similarities to [[rugby football|rugby]]. Despite these similarities, the name is ''not'' related to the game of rugby or [[Rugby School]] in England, it is in fact of [[Meitei language|Meitei]] origin, and means literally "coconut snatching".<ref name=Levine2>Levine, p. 275</ref> Emma Levine, an English writer on little known Asian sports, speculates:

:"Perhaps this was the root of modern rugby? Most Manipuris are quite adamant that the modern world 'stole' the idea from them and made it into rugby... this game, which has been around for centuries, is so similar to rugby, which evolved a great deal later, that it must be more than a coincidence."<ref name=Levine1>Levine, pp. 275–6</ref>

However, [[traditional football]] games can be found in many parts of the world, e.g. [[marn grook]] in Australia, [[cuju]] in China and [[calcio Fiorentino]] in Italy and Levine provides no documentary or material evidence of its antiquity.

==Mythological and religious associations==
The game is traditionally associated with autochthonous forms of [[Hinduism]]. It is said to have started as a ceremonial re-enactment of the celestial snatching of the pot of nectar after the [[Samundra Manthan]].
An official game is held on the occasion of the Yaoshang Festival of [[Shri Shri Govindajee]] at palace ground and with Royal presence.<ref name=incredible>{{Cite web|url=https://www.incredibleindia.org/content/incredible-india-v2/en.html|title=English|website=Incredible India V2}}</ref><ref name=Levine3>Levine, p. 276</ref>

Some games take place at the [[Bijoy Govinda Temple]] Ground.

==Laws and dress==
Unlike rugby it is an individual sport, not a team one.<ref name=Levine2/> Before the start of the game, players rub their bodies with mustard oil and water to make slippery to catch each other.<ref name=Levine2/> A coconut properly soaked with oil is place in front of the chief guest of the function, known as the "King", who does not take part in the game itself.<ref name=Levine2/> Before the start the coconut is placed in front of the seat of the "King".<ref name=Levine2/>
Other features of the game include:

* Dress - players are generally barefoot, and wear shorts (a kisi/langot), but not shirts.<ref name=Levine3/>
* Umpire - The umpire is a senior ''jatra'', who starts the game, and stops fouls.<ref name=Levine3/>
* Pitch - usually approximately 45 metres long, by eighteen wide, without grass. One side of the pitch forms the central portion of the goal line. It is frequently played on rough, dried mud.<ref name=Levine3/> Alternatively it can be played on turf.
* Scoring - a player has to approach the goal from the front with his oiled coconut and pass the goal line. The coconut is later offered to the "King".<ref name=Levine2/>
* Carrying - players are not allowed to hold the coconut against their chest, but have to carry it under their arm.<ref name=Levine3/>
* Fouling and tackling - Players are not allowed to kick or punch opponents, or to tackle players who do not have the coconut.<ref name=Levine3/>

Each side has 7 players in a field that is about 45 x 18 metres in area. One end of the field has a rectangular box 4.5 x 3 metres. One side of which forms the central portion of the goal line. To score a goal a player has to approach the goal from the front with his oiled coconut and pass the goal line. The coconut serves the purpose of a ball and is offered to the king or the judges who sit just beyond the goal line. However, in ancient times the teams were not equally matched but the players, with the coconut had to tackle all the rest of the players.

==Royal Associations==
According to Levine, the game used to have martial associations, and tested prowess:
:''"The ultimate goal of yubi lakpi... is to present the coconut to the King, or the head of the tribe (as in the original game of [[buzkashi]], where the goat was offered to the King after the match). In modern times, a 'King' is selected to receive the offering.
:''"For this reason, it is a game of individuals where each player is vying to win the coconut and get the reward. In the original games, the King would watch the players to see who was the most skilful, and possessed qualities for the battlefield (as with [[mukna kanjei]] [a Manipuri game similar to hockey] and [[polo]]) Each player therefore wishes to impress."''<ref name=Levine2/>
Nowadays the "King" (or "Chief Guest") is often a teacher, or official.

==See also==
* [[Lelo burti]]
* [[Medieval football]]
* [[Rugby union in India]]
* [[Rugby union in Bangladesh]]

==References==
<references/>
* Levine, Emma. ''A Game of Polo with a Headless Goat'' ({{ISBN|0233050418}})

==External links==
* [http://www.resolutionlenses.com/sportslenses/dictionary.html Exotic Sports Dictionary]
* [http://mic-delhi.com/about-manipur/indigenous-games/yubi-lakpi-manipuri-rugby/ Yubi Lakpi (Manipuri Rugby)]
* [http://manipur.nic.in/Games.htm Indigenous Games of Manipur]
* [http://www.e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=Sport1..240409.apr09 MOA effects rugby unification]
* [http://www.travelmasti.com/domestic/manipur/sports.htm Traditional Games & Sports]
* [http://www.kanglaonline.com/index.php?template=gallery_popup&gid=135&Idoc_Session=617649e44f1d89b4c3b336c24f77c2e6 Indigenous games of Manipur]

{{Team sports}}
{{Rugby union in India}}

[[Category:Traditional football]]
[[Category:Rugby union in India]]
[[Category:Meitei culture]]
[[Category:Traditional sports of India]]
[[Category:Sports originating in India]]
[[Category:History of rugby union]]

Yubi lakpi - Revision history

imported>Auric: /* Mythological and religious associations */