Manipur Sangai Festival, 2011 at Mapal Kangjeibung, BOAT and Other venues
- Date : from November 21 to 30 2011 -

Pix : http://www.manipursangaifestival.com

From manipursangaifestival.com

Although many editions of the Festival has been celebrated over the past few years, the Tourism Festival has been renamed as the Manipur Sangai Festival since the 2010 edition. This has been done to showcase the uniqueness of the shy and gentle Brow-Antlered Deer popularly known as the Sangai Deer which is found only in Manipur at the Keibul Lamjao Floating National Park in Loktak Lake and to further promote Manipur as a world class tourism destination.

Akin to a bowl-shaped valley surrounded by hills of the Sub-Himalayan ranges, Manipur has Nagaland in its north, Mizoram in its south and Assam in its West, while sharing common international border with Myanmar in the east. Manipur is a nature lover’s delight, thanks to its beautiful natural hills, rivers, clouds, ponds, trees and flowers etc. Meitei is the main ethnic group of Manipur and their language goes by the same name and is the main language of the state. Naga and Kuki groups constitute the major tribal communities of the land. Migrants from Bengal and Bangladesh form a significant proportion of the population.

The Manipur Sangai Festival is a State Level Festival organized by the Government of Manipur and spearheaded by the Tourism Department. In this festival not only Indian States participate but foreign troupes also for various games and cultural activities. During the Festival, the rich culture and mystique dances of Manipur are showcased at the fully air-conditioned Culture Auditorium.

Indigenous Fashion Show, Rock Show and Traditional Musical Night are held at the Bhagyachandra Open Air Theatre (BOAT). The 10-day long Manipur Sangai Festival, a cultural extravaganza started with the aim of showcasing Manipur at her best, is a fixed annual calendar feature beginning from 21st to 30th of November, bringing to the world the best of what this North-Eastern State of India has to offer, be it in cultural heritage, folk dances, indigenous cuisine & music, adventure sports and natural beauty.

The 2011 edition of the Manipur Sangai Festival will showcase an extravaganza of cultural dances and adventure sports. Raas Lila, an Indian Classical Dance form, showcases the love of the Lord Krishna for Radha played along with numerous Gopis. The intricately woven costumes of Raas Leela moving seamlessly with the haunting music is a feast for the eyes and spiritual experience for many audience.

Besides showcasing arts and culture, handicrafts, handloom, Sangai Festival has various local sports like Yubi Lakpi, Arambai, Kang, Mukna Kangjei and Sagol Kangjei etc. The organizers plan to introduce power parasailing, polo and tracking too. The Festival has folk dances like Khamba Thoibi, Pung Cholam, Maibi Dance, Nupa Pala and numerous enchanting tribal dances like the Thadou dance, Kabhui dance, Tangkhul dance. Maibi dance is a group activity in which women dance with equal rhythm whereas in Nupa Pala a group male dancers move with the rhythm of drums.

The 2011 Festival will also include various adrenaline-filled Adventure Sports like X-Game International Invitational Men & Women Open Speed Rock Climbing Competition, an artificial wall climbing contest to be held at Hapta Kangjeibung Main Venue, a Rock Show in which numerous local rock bands will play and a Traditional Fashion Show in which more than 10 fashion designers will showcase their creations by highlighting gorgeous and elegant native models of the State.

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