This is the first time that a picture of this unique indigenous game is being permitted to be published to the outside world. “The prohibition was lifted following intense pressure from the villagers” says K. Raina, a resident of the village and a local MLA.” In fact we want to revive and expose our tradition to a wider audience through media in this era”, he said.

Elders of Maram Khullen insisted on not taking the pictures from close range but from beyond the wrestling arena and outside the courtyard. Even today the customary laws of the Maram tribe prohibits movement of females close to the courtyard while the game is on.

“We impose the restriction as the area is the sacred court of our village” informs K. Namba, the village chief of Khullakpa sagei (clan) informed, “This is as per age old customary laws”. Unlike Namba, the younger generation of the community could not tell the tales of their tradition due to the influence of Christianity. After consulting village elders, Peter Kubba, a student leader said, “The reason for not wearing clothes is to show that they’re healthy in front of the king”, and added “It is also to get blessing from the King in the ancient time”.

In the past, any male villager who came to the wrestling court with his clothes on was taken as a coward and unmanly. Women may watch this indigenous form of wrestling but their seats are placed at a little distance away from the wrestling court and they are not allowed to come closer. In case of any undesirable rivalry between two opposing wrestlers or between their groups/clans and in the event of any miscreant disturbing a wrestling match, the Khullakpa/Khullakpi will adjudicate the case. There is no custom of giving any material prize to the winner of a wrestling competition but it has been in practice since ages to award him with a heirloom, which usually a cloth.

Kang Ngi is a post harvest festival celebrated for a week starting from the 16th day of a particular lunar month of the Marams. Usually, the festival falls in the last week of December or in the beginning of January. The festival is an occasion to test strength and score victory over one another without any malice but in the true sporting spirit amongst three clans Mathak, Khullakpa and Makha of Maram Khullen village which has a population figure of 10,000.

Since the advent of Christianity in the village, there has been some changes in the way the festival was celebrated. “Even as my Khullakpi mother never adopted Christianity, I’m a Christian now”, conveys K. Namba. MLA K. Raina who grew up in the village said that before the arrival of the festival, all men including married and unmarried of each Sagei (clan) should stay in village male dormitories for about a month in advance to train themselves and build up their strength there. Stone throwing contest, long jump, hoi laoba, and religious rituals are other events of the festival. But by about 1980, the celebration got gradually reduced in magnitude. This may be attributed to adoption of Christianity by the villagers.