Manipur Sangai Festival kicks off
We are Manipuris first, then comes one's community, says Gaikhangam
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, November 21 2012: The annual 10-day long Manipur Sangai Festival, 2012 organized by State Tourism Department kicked off to a mesmerizing start at Hapta Kangjeibung here today.

The inaugural function of the festival which aims at boosting tourism industry in the state was graced by Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam and MLA M Prithviraj, who is the Parliamentary Secretary in-charge of Tourism and Youth Affairs and Sports as Chief Guest and President respectively.

Minister of Education and CAF and PD Moirangthem Okendro; Chief Secretary DS Poonia; Olympic Bronze Medalist MC Mary Kom and Minister Counsellor (Commercial) of Royal Thai Embassy, New Delhi, Tharadol Thoingruang were also present as Guests of Honour.

Speaking on the occasion, Gaikhangam said that instead of dividing ourselves on community line, all the different groups of people settling in Manipur should think as one and come up together.

We should remember that we are Manipuris in the first place, then only comes our own communities.

Manipur Sangai Festival kicks off

"We can never be developed if we bring out our own issues based on our own different communities.

We need to keep our communal ideas in the back stage to get the real taste of development", he said, adding that we should all have the courage and spirit to live and die for our motherland.

Stressing on the need to protect and preserve the natural environment, Gaikhangam observed that ecosystem and biodiversity of our natural heritage should be preserved while designing the infrastructure for tourism development in the state.

Minister Okendro said that Manipur is gifted with all the natural beauty which is far better than the artificial beauty of Switzerland.

He also observed that we need to bring about a change in the prevailing culture of imposing bandh and blockade at the drop of a hat if we want to reap the fruit from the vast tourism potentials in the State.

Tharadol Thoingruang noted that Manipur and Thailand has not only close relations in terms of foods and culture but also in geographical proximity.

The closeness will only increase as the relationship between Myanmar and Manipur builds up.

He also expressed desire that the Sangai Festival be organized in collaboration with other South East Asian countries to make the event an internationally acclaimed one.

Delivering the Presidential speech, MLA M Prithviraj informed that MC Mary Kom has been selected as the Brand Ambassador of Sangai Festival.

Every year Sangai Festival is thronged by people from across the state and beyond.

Stalls from Thailand and Myanmar are also taking part in the event with various food and handicrafts products.

The festival has been renamed as Manipur Sangai festival since 2010 to popularize 'Sangai,' the rare species of deer found in Manipur, which is also the state animal.

Apart from various adventure and eco-tourism activities at various locations of the state, a razzmatazz of cultural programmes like presentation of Manipuri dances, tribal folk songs and dances, Thang-ta presentation, Yubi Lakpi, Polo would be every day at BOAT. From this year, the entire activities of the festival would be webcasted live on its official website '[email protected]' .