Poubi Lai

Poubi Lai was an ancient dragon python, who dwelled in the Loktak Lake of Manipur, in Meitei mythology and folklore.

[4] In the Loktak lake, the spirit of Poubi Lai was awakened by the fishing activities of the fishermen of Moirang.

The maiba was a shaman priest king of Kabui tribe in the Salangthel hill range of the Loktak lake.

[5][6][7] In another version of the story, Poubi Lai (Paobirai) lives in the isle of the Karang Hill in the Loktak lake.

The carving belongs to the permanent collection of the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (IGRMS), Bhopal.

[5][7][9][10][12] During the exhibition at Bhopal, 25 artists of Centre for Youth and Cultural Activities from Imphal, performed a dance drama on the story of Poubi Lai.

An illustration of Poubi Lai
The Additional Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Shri K.K. Mittal, visits after inaugurating the 'Poubi Lai-The Story of a Giant Python', Single object exhibition mounted by the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (IGRMS), Bhopal in collaboration with National Museum, New Delhi on July 21, 2015.
The Additional Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Shri K.K. Mittal, addressing at the inauguration of the 'Poubi Lai-The Story of a Giant Python', Single object exhibition mounted by the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (IGRMS), Bhopal in collaboration with National Museum, New Delhi on July 21, 2015.
Artists performing a dance drama on the story of Poubi Lai in 2015