YUBI LAKPI
Yubi Lakpi is a traditional contact sport from Manipur, India, often likened to rugby but with unique cultural significance. The term "Yubi Lakpi" translates to "coconut snatching" in the Meitei language.
🏉 What Is Yubi Lakpi?
Yubi Lakpi is played with an oiled coconut instead of a ball, making it slippery and challenging to handle. The game involves two teams of seven players each, competing on a 45x18 meter field. The objective is to carry the coconut across the goal line at the opponent's end. Players are barefoot and often shirtless, with their bodies smeared in oil to make tackling more difficult.
🕉️ Cultural Significance
Yubi Lakpi is traditionally played during the Yaoshang festival (Manipur's version of Holi) at the Shree Shree Bijoy Govindaji Temple grounds. The game symbolises the mythological event of Samudra Manthan, where gods and demons fought over a pot of nectar. In the game, players are divided into 'Team God' and 'Team Evil,' and the outcome is believed to predict the land's prosperity for the year.
⚙️ Gameplay Highlights
Equipment: An oiled coconut serves as the ball.
Attire: Players wear minimal clothing, typically just a pair of shorts or a traditional wrap.
Objective: Individually carry the coconut across the goal line to score.
Scoring: Though played in teams, each player competes individually, and the one who scores the most is declared the winner.
Tradition: The winner presents the coconut to the temple's deity, symbolising offering and gratitude.
Yubi Lakpi is more than just a sport; it's a blend of physical prowess, cultural heritage, and religious tradition, making it a unique and cherished game in Manipur.
