Source: The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, October 22:
The Loktak Festival Celebration Committee is set to make the XI Loktak Day celebration scheduled on October 30 a remarkable event marked with various ritual and cultural items and awareness campaigns, according to former minister Sanayaima Singh, who is the chairman of the celebration committee.
Speaking to news persons this evening, Sanayaima said on the first day of the celebration, water will be collected by women shamans from the Isai Mapal in Loktak lake and will be placed for worship and invocation for three days.
The second day will be marked by awareness campaigns at .Khordak Nongmaikhong, Loktak Lairembi Lampak, Haorang Aheiyang Thanga and Chingthi Ching Komlakhong about the economic importance of the lake, its flora and fauna and the need to preserve it.
This will be followed with cultural items related to the history of Loktak Lake, he said.
Besides, there will be free medical camps for the Loktak settlers in interior parts, he said.
Other highlights of the celebration will include illumination of candles across the lake as a sign of mourning for the martyrs of territorial integrity movement, Sanayaima disclosed.
Sanayaima, on behalf of the organizing committee, also appealed to all sections of the people not to call any bandh, blockade or stir in Bishnupur district during the festival days.
Sanayaima said the main object of holding the Loktak Day is to preserve the natural environment of the lake which has been crucial for ecological balance of the state.
Regretting" the deteriorating condition of the lake owing to lack of awareness on the part of the people, he also cited the exceptional economic importance of the lake in the state.