Biren kicks off Mangkang Festival
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR
Imphal, April 24 2021:
Chief Minister N Biren Singh kicked off Mangkang Festival 2021 cum 13th General Conference of Northern Maram Women Organisation (NMWO) through video conferencing from his Secretariat today.
Speaking on the Occasion, the Chief Minister said that the Mangkang is an annual spring festival of Maram womenfolk.
Based on Maram lunar calendar, the festival takes place on the 4th day of the new month of Fiibui-kii (March in a Leap Year) or Tingpui-kii (April) in a regular year.
He said the festival testifies how advanced, decent and disciplined Maram women are.
The Chief Minister then expressed regret for he was not able to attend the festival at Maram in person due to the COVED-19 pandemic.
He said he would visit Maram and interact with the villagers when COVID-19 cases drop.
The Chief Minister also noted that the festival is traditionally celebrated at ancestral Maram Khullen (Maramei Namdi) village, however, in the recent years, as an effort to promote the festival, it is organised at different villages once in three years since 2001 .
Presentations of cultural items and Miss Mangkang contest will be the special highlights of the festival which will wind up tomorrow.
Forest Minister Awangbow Newmai, Manipur Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker K Robindro and ex-MLA Francis Ngajokpa were present in person at the festival venue.
CAF&PD Minister Th Satyabrata, Advisor to CM (Health) Dr Sapam Ranjan and MLA M Rameshwar took part in the inauguration programme of the festival via video conference with Chief Minister N Biren Singh.