Lessons from Japanese fans at WC : Sangai Fest venues
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: November 28, 2022 -

The 'greatest' show on earth underway at Qatar courtesy the FIFA World Cup and here at home the 'greatest' showpiece underway courtesy the Sangai Festival.

So even as the Government of Manipur has left nothing to chance to put on its best foot forward to showcase Manipur to the many visiting the State during the course of the Festival, with some 'head turners' having already appeared here as show stoppers to promote the handloom products of the State and in the process giving more room to some of the already well established names in the world of fashion, many continue to find the time and the inclination to discuss and rave about the heroics of their favourite players and teams at far away Qatar.

The state of the art football stadia are the destinations for many of the die hard football fans from across the world while back here the different venues of the ongoing Sangai Festival is the destination to head for with family and friends to spend quality time with.

So even as the world including many here in Manipur continue to talk about the shocking defeats of favourites Argentina and Germany in their lung openers at the ongoing World Cup, something not at all connected with the beautiful game but which has left a lasting impact on the world is the conduct of the Japanese football fans.

Is there anything where a comparison can be drawn between the Japanese fans and those who have made a footfall at the Sangai Festival venues is a question that comes to mind.

The answer need not be spelt out but will the same filth, dirt and garbage be left lying unattended at the Sangai Festival venues as in the past or will this year's edition of the festival see some positive changes ?

No clear cut answer and one wishes that the organisers of the festival had given some publicity drive so that all the revellers, the festival goers as well as those who have opened stalls at the festival venues are sensitised to the need to leave the place neat and clean once the festival wraps up.

This brings to mind on why the Government has not made any formal announcement on the need to curtail the use of plastic carry bags inside the festival venue ?

Are eatery stalls inside the festival venues dissuaded from using plastic plates, cups, spoons and forks ?

Or do these items not come under the plastic ban which was announced so stringently some time back ? These are questions which only the Government can answer.

The beautiful game. This is how Pele has used just three words to verbalise the game of football and the Japanese fans have just made the game more beautiful with their sense of discipline, their civic sense and the message that making the place more liveable is the responsibility of everyone.

Nothing to do with football, one may say on the conduct of the Japanese football fans but their conduct will be connected with fans' behaviour down the years and one hopes this catches up.

It is this point one would like to draw a comparison with the conduct of the people at the Sangai Festival venues.

Do they and will they leave the place neat and clean once the festival winds up or is it going to be a case of piled up garbages ?

As noted earlier, the answer should be obvious to everyone, for while the people here have been going ga-ga over the reported conduct of the Japanese fans in cleaning up the stadium after every match they attend, there is nothing much to suggest that they would ape such a behaviour at a public place like the Sangai Festival venue.

Go beyond the football matches and take a look at how some people behave and this is one important lesson that can be drawn from the FIFA World Cup at Qatar.