Martyrs' memorial rally, festival of Thang-Ta to be held
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, April 19 2012:
A rally in memory of those martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the cause of their Motherland would be taken on the occasion of Khongjom Day observance on April 23.A festival of Thang-Ta will also be organised to mark the event.
Addressing media persons in this regard, Konsam Jeeten, Advisor of Kanglei Indigenous Martial Arts and Cultural Society (KIMACS) informed that KIMACS would be organizing the rally which would be flagged off from the historic Kangla Fort by Leishemba Sanajaoba, the titular king of Manipur.
From there, the rallyists would proceed towards Palace Compound and assemble at Lamyanba Sahnglen where floral tributes would be paid to the departed souls of the Martyrs and a Thang-Ta salute would be given.
He further informed that a festival of Thang-Ta, which would go on for three days, would also be inaugurated on that day.
During the course of the festival, Thang-Ta competition, lectures on Thang-Ta and demonstrations on the subject would be witnessed.
The inaugural function would be graced by MP Dr T Meinya as Chief Guest.
On the significance of the proposed Thang-Ta festival, Jeeten pointed out that even though Thang-Ta is considered to be an important component in the cultural history of the state, yet the state government has never ever tried to preserve the art form.
This art form could have reached its zenith and made known to the outside world, if the government had at least paid some interests in the regard.
The state government had earlier instituted syllabus committee on Thang-Ta in 2007.However, so far, there has been there has been no sincere effort from the government's side to include Thang-Ta in the syllabus of School education, he lamented and observed that there should be a subject entirely for Thang-ta and at the same time, the state government should establish a Thang-Ta institution.