Poubi Lai

Poubi Lai (Meitei: ꯄꯧꯕꯤ ꯂꯥꯢ; ꯄꯧꯕꯤ ꯂꯥꯏ; Old Manipuri: ꯄꯧꯄꯤ ꯂꯥꯢ; ꯄꯧꯄꯤ ꯂꯥꯏ) is a primordial antique serpentine dragon, often represented as a gigantic horned python, which dwells in the Loktak lake in Meitei mythology, folklore and religion.^[1]^[2]^[3]

According to folklore, it was an evil spirit which was awakened by the fishing activities of the fishermen in the lake. So, it created havoc, massacre and claimed the lives of many people. Next, it threatened the king of Ancient Moirang to offer him a basketful of meal and a human on daily basis. Else, it would destroy the entire kingdom. So, unable to disobey the tyrant's order, the king did so.

References

[1] ttps://www.dailypioneer.com/2016/editions/story-of-a-giant-poubi-lai-show-begins-on-jan-7.html

[2] ttps://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Dehli/the-story-of-a-giant-python-called-poubi-lai/article7449693.ece

[3] ttps://www.theweek.in/leisure/society/2018/07/02/manipur-loch-ness-monster-and-other-folktales-wari-jalsa-storytelling-fest.html

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