Pena Making Craft
Musical Instrument
History
The Pena, a traditional instrument of Manipur, holds cultural and spiritual value for the Meitei people. Its name reflects the joy it evokes, with the bow symbolizing the sky (father) and the body the earth (mother). Once supported by Meitei kings, Pena artists were seen as both musicians and healers. The instrument's rhythmic motion symbolizes the heartbeat and cycle of life, making it a vital part of Manipuri heritage and storytelling.
Raw Materials and Tools
The Penu Maroo (soundbox) is made from a dried coconut shell covered with leather, though ancient versions were possibly crafted from clay. The Cheijing (bow) is shaped from branches of the Ureirom (Bixa axellana) tree, with horsehair stretched between its ends. Tools include knives, chisels, and binding materials.
Process
The Penu Maroo, or sound box of the Pena, is a bowl-shaped structure made from a dried coconut shell covered with leather. Historically, it may have been crafted from clay, but its design has evolved over time. The Pena Cheijing, or bow, is shaped like a question mark, made by bending branches of the Ureirom tree. Horsehair is stretched across its length to create the instrument’s distinctive sound.
Design and Color
The Pena’s bow combines iron and wood and is often adorned with small metal bells. Its soundbox is crafted from a coconut shell, while the handle is bamboo. A wooden pole connects the handle to the soundbox, classifying it as a spike fiddle. Horsehair strings on both the bow and body create friction, enhanced by Uchan Marek (pine tree resin). The Maru, symbolizing the mother, is sometimes decorated with a Shamai (cloth) at its end.
Product Range
There are two types of Pena: one with a larger sound box known as PENA, and a smaller one referred to as KHUTKHONG PENA. The Khutkhong Pena is specifically associated with the festivals of the Chakpa, one of the original inhabitant groups of Manipur.