New Delhi (NVI): Gateway of North-East region, Manipur is all set to showcase its rich tradition and culture to the world with 2019 edition of the “Manipur Sangai Festival” which is going to be held from November 24 to 30.
The festival will reflect the cultural heritage and the love for art which is inherent amongst various tribes in Manipur. Besides, the folk dance performances like the Kabui Naga dance, Bamboo dance, Maibi dance, Lai Haraoba dance, Khamba Thoibi dance, the festival will also represent the state’s classical dance form, ‘Ras Leela’, which is quite famous across the world for its distinctiveness from any other dance forms in India.
Showcasing state’s best indigenous handlooms and handicrafts products, the festival will also bring to light an array of Manipur’s tribal arts, handlooms and handicrafts products which are otherwise not widely available in the market.
Every year in November, Manipur celebrates the “Sangai Festival”, which was named after the State animal, Sangai, the brow-antlered deer found only in Manipur.
The festival will also exhibit various adventurous tourism activities like trekking, white water rafting and parasailing etc. along with its indigenous martial arts- Thang Ta (a combination Spear & Sword skills), Yubi-Lakpi (a game played with greased coconut-like rugby), Mukna Kangjei (a game that combines hockey and wrestling), and Sagol Kangjei- Modern Polo (believed to have evolved in Manipur).
It will also introduce state’s popular dishes like Nga-thongba (fish curry), Eromba (a dish prepared with boiled vegetables and fermented fish), Ooti (mustard beans), Bora (pakoda), Paknam (a baked cake of gram flour mixed with other ingredients), Singju (a spicy hot traditional salad), and Brown-rice Kheer etc.
The past editions of the festival have been a huge success and brought a huge number of visitors from within and outside the state. The 2018 edition of the Manipur Sangai Festival was organized at different locations in Imphal and Bishnupur District. The decision has been made keeping in view, the increasing number of visitors to the state during the festival.
Manipur Sangai Festival was started in the year 2010 and has grown over the years into a big platform for the state to showcase its rich tradition and culture to the world. The festival is labelled as the grandest festival of the State today and helps to promote Manipur as a world-class tourism destination.
–ps
