Tribal festival to spread bonhomie in Manipur
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Pamreiso Shimray

Imphal, November 16 2011: In time of edginess among the people of Manipur, the first Tribal Cultural Festival to be organised by the Tribal Research Institute (TRI) would ring in bonhomie among the tribesmen as they rub shoulders swaying to the rhythms of love and harmony.

To upkeep the rich tribal culture of the state, the TRI will organise a two-day State Level Tribal Cultural Festival from November 18-19 in Imphal.

"The festival will be the first tribal cultural festival in Manipur and a platform for all the tribes to showcase their rich culture," said TRI joint director Solomon Zingkhai.

Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh will grace as the opening Chief Guest of the two-day cultural event which will be based on the theme "Harmonizing and Honouring our Culture" and feature different tribal dances and folk music of the culturally diverse Manipur.

The two-day festival will be attended by host of ministers, parliamentarians and legislators.

The tribal gong will reverberate at the curtain raiser of the festival on Friday, while prominent artiste Guru Rewben Mashangva and his team will do the "Honouring of Culture" with a musical folk piece "Winning Peace Together" .

"In times like this in Manipur, the festival can be a vehicle for peace and harmony.

If we continue to work on this way, peace will definitely prevail.

To win peace, it needs a collective effort," felt Rewben.

The event's attractions include rendition of Rongmei traditional drum, Kuki musical synchronization, tribal feats, folk song from Monsang, Maram, Zeme, Lamkang Maring, Anal and Poumai; while the cultural dance will be performed by Tangkhul, Zomi, Mao, Kuki, Liangmai, Zou, Kom and Chiru among many others.

In a symbolic manner, the organisers will also host "harmony feast" for the participants of the festival.

For the people in the state, the festival is a moment to share goodwill and build relationship.

"The event is an opportunity, not only to bond the people culturally but spread love and harmony.

For the Kukis and Nagas, to come together at one platform is very significant.

The tribes in Manipur have for long been divided based on Kuki and Naga ethnic line," echoed Mangcha Kuki, the festival organising member.

He also added that the event has significance not only for the tribals but the whole of Manipur.

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