Sihai, Manipur
Sihai, Manipur
Sihai Saanhee | |
|---|---|
town | |
| Population | |
| • Total | 3,000 |
Sihai (pronounced as “SI-HAI”) is a general reference to a group of villages (settlements: Sihai Khullen, Sihai Khunou and Sihai Kahaophung) in the north of Ukhrul District headquarter in Manipur. Sihai is located at 25°06′N 94°17′E / 25.10°N 94.29°E. Sihai Khullen, the nearest from Ukhrul is about 37 kilometers from Ukhrul, connected partially by National Highway 150 (Imphal-Kohima via Ukhrul and Jessami Highway). The settlements together have a population of over 3000.
Sihai Khullen is about 7 miles from Zero Point, a Small Hamlet at the foothill of Sihai Phangrei. Sihai Phangrei is a long flat hill range, one of the favorite picnic spots in Ukhrul district. Sihai Phangrei range joins with the Shirui Peak/Shirui Kashong, home of the famous flower Shirui Lily (Lilium mackliniae)
Neighboring villages of the settlements are Khamasom, Longpi, Lunghar, Shirui, Mapum and Zingsui.
History
The original name of the settlement is 'Saanhee' meaning 'cow's jewel' in the local dialect and 'Sei-hai' in Tangkhul dialect,
the common vernacular of the Tangkhul Naga tribe.'The settlement became better known as Sihai as outsiders find it hard to called the settlement by the local dialect. However, the neighboring villages refer to the settlements as Cow's Jewel in their respective dialects. The origin of the name is traced back to the time of migration and settlement based on a legend believed by the settlers. According to the legend, a cow was slaughtered as sacrifice to commemorate the occasion of the settlement and that a jewel was found in the cow's bowel.
The jewel found inside the cow as said by the settlers was given away to the daughter of the village chief as a marriage gift who got married to the son of Phungcham Chief. Phungcham, is a village approximately 35 kilometers north of Ukhrul. The jewel till then was in the custody of the village chief and his predecessors for several generations.
After staying together in a single location for several centuries, the original settlement got bifurcated into two, with almost half of the settlers moving further east in the 19th century. The main reason for the relocation was to occupy and cultivate more of the inherited fertile arable land that lies beyond the river. The old settlement became to be known as Sihai Khullen/Phungcham (old settlement) and the new settlement was named Sihai Khunou/Phungdhar (new settlement).
Sihai Khunou later got bifurcated into Sihai Khunou and Sihai Kahaophung. Until recently the three settlements were under one chief.
People and Occupation
Agriculture is the main occupation of the settlers. The main crops grown in these settlements are rice, corn, and pulses of many varieties. Sihai Khullen is well known in Ukhrul district for cabbage cultivation and its large scale export. 99.9% of the population are Christians. Literacy rate of the settlements is 64%.
Vegetation
The settlements as a whole has a rich reserve of both rare and common flora and fauna. The place is famous for the rich variety of rhododendrons that blooms in the spring season. During April and May one can see the whole spring beds covered with white and red rhododendrons, locally called as Ngayawon and Kokluiwon. Sihai also is home to various varieties of orchids that blooms round the year. Fruits grown in Sihai are peach, plum, grapes, passion fruit, pear, and apple.