An actor enacts a scene from the play Emoinu Chalamba Campaign. Telegraph picture

Imphal, Oct. 19: Imagine Prime Minister Narendra Modi sending gods to different states of the country to motivate citizens into joining the Swachh Bharat Mission.

A street play, Emoinu Chalamba Campaign, which is creating waves in Manipur’s rural neighbourhoods, depicts Modi doing just that take the clean-India mission forward.

The play, staged as part of the clean-India campaign, is sponsored by the District Water and Sanitation Committee under the public health engineering department.

The play, directed by M.C. Thoiba of the Banian Repertory Theatre, Imphal, staged 15 shows in Imphal West, Imphal East, Ukhrul, Thoubal and Bishnupur. The next venue of performance is Churachandpur district.

“It is part of the clean-India campaign and the audience simply loves it as they can easily understand the message — be neat and clean and earn prosperity,” the director said.

The hourlong play opens with Meitei god of sky, Soraren, telling the audience that he was sent by Narendra Modi to tell the people in Manipur about the need to take forward the campaign.

“Modi contacted all the gods of the world and requested them to go to their respective places and motivate people to be neat and clean. I have come on the request of Modi,” Soraren said.

Similarly, Modern Krishna, who is shown as a social worker in the play, and Hirambi of Mahabharat came to spread similar messages. The play culminates with Meiteis’ goddess of wealth, Emoinu, telling Chalamba, a devotee, that if he and his household are clean, they will prosper.

“In Meitei concept cleanliness begins at home. We have a tradition of keeping the household neat and tidy. We have specific time for sweeping the floors and specific place for keeping the brooms. So the play says cleanliness should start from home,” M.C. Arun, an acclaimed playwright, said.

Meiteis have a belief that the goddess of wealth (Emoinu) resides in neat and clean houses and those houses prosper.

The play is an instant hit. It is staged on open village playgrounds or at community halls, depending upon the weather condition. Yesterday, it was shown at Saiton, a village in Bishnupur district.

About 500 to 2,000 villagers always gather whenever the play is staged.

“We know that cleanliness is good. But we never think that prosperity is linked to it. The message sent by the play is easily understood. It encourages us to join the clean-India campaign,” Madhubala Devi, 35, a homemaker, said after watching the play at Saiton.

An interaction session between Emoinu and the audience on the issue of cleanliness, which is a part of the play, helps the audience understand the importance of cleanliness.

Given the popularity of the play, Modi’s clean-India mission will become a success at least in Manipur’s rural neighbourhoods.