Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 18:
Under the objective of promoting indigenous cuisine of the various communities settling in the State and to expand its market base, the Ist Chinjak Festival (Food Festival) began today at the complex of GM Hall here.
The festival is being organised by the Innovative Youth Development Association.
The 10-day long food festival which would go on till April 28 was inaugurated by Chairman of ICM Khaidem Borkeshore as functional president.
In all 15 stalls displaying food items of various communities are participating in the festival.
Rice-Bora from Kakching, Rice-bread from Waikhong, Heikrak Helli Singju from Moirang, Bora from Nambol, Beef curry from Lilong, Hawai Singju from Sekmai, Oak Chagem Pomba from Keishamthong Khul, Heingan-Bera from Khurai and Umorok Metpa from Churachandpur, etc are among other hundreds of food items on display in the festival.
The success of the festival could be gauged from the overwhelming number of visitors thronging the food stalls relishing various items on offer.
Inaugurating the festival, Borkeshore appreciated organising such festivals at a time when the food products of the manufacturing units located outside the State overflooded the native market.
So, the State Government and other related authorities should pay special attention on organising that the festival at the State level.
After sports and culture, the indigenous food products of Manipur has the potential of introducing the State to the outside world,
he noted.
While stressing on the need to expand the market base of the indigenous food products, he also expressed serious concern over lack of a food testing laboratory in the State which could help in testing the qualities of the food products brought from outside.
Earlier, giving the key note address, secretary of Innovative Youth Development Association Bikramjit Kongkham observed that along with the effort towards promotion of indigenous culture and tradition by countries all over the world, attention is now being paid to promotion of indigenous food items as well.
In such a situation, it is unfortunate that Manipuri society which used to be a self sufficient State in term of food production is staying low.
So it is high time to make a conscious and concerted effort towards promotion of the indigenous food products of the various communities living in the State and expand its market base to reap the benefit, he exhorted the gathering.