Youngstes from Manipur performing at a thehme park near Vijayawada. - PHOTOs: V. RAJU
16-member team from Manipur perform to help recoup their families from financial woes They perform with rings and ropes in parks. Their feats with fire and wheel amuse all. But, their daredevilry is not only for drawing applause from audience, but also it is the only mean to earn their livelihood.
Sixteen members of a team from
Manipur perform 15 varieties of stunts and acrobatics at a theme park in
the city to amuse visitors. “I like stunts. But, performing here is not
a choice but a compulsion. I stopped pursuing higher education owing to
financial problems in the family. But, no regrets! At least, I am now
able to support my 65-year-old ailing father (who is recovering from a
leg injury),” he said. “Sometimes, we feel bad as we miss our friends
and relatives at our home town. But, we do not have any other option,”
he adds.
Like Mr. Kennedy, 15 other youngsters,
including eight girls from Manipur, came to the city and perform stunts
and acrobatics to help their families. “After my three bothers separated
from the family, it became difficult to cope with the increasing
financial woes. I decided to migrate from home town to earn more and
that is why I am here,” explains Mr. Kennedy, who completed Intermediate
education. He is now managing to send Rs.10,000 per month to his
parents out of the Rs.15,000 he gets as salary.
For
the past three years, the team has been performing different stunts like
ring and rope jump, fire and wheel acts, ring dance and etc. The show
lasts for an hour with various stunts of five minute duration each. “The
show is an added attraction for the visitors,” says M. Joel Sanjay, who
coordinates the show.
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