Governor Najma Heptula steals the show on the inaugural function of Sangai Festival
Defence Minister spends 40 minutes more from schedule departure time
Source: IT News

Imphal, November 22 2018: While Union defence Minister Nirmala Sitaraman was put to halt without blinking her by the elegant cultural performances on the inaugural day of the Sangai Festival at Bheigyachandra Open Air Theatre (BOAT) at Palace Compound yesterday evening, Crowd gathering at the open air auditorium could not take their eyes from her Excellency, the governor of Manipur, Dr.Najma Heptalla as she walks along with other VVIPs in traditional Manipuri attires.

The 40 minutes none stopped performance at the performing space of BOAT, which was choreographed by Gurumayum Loken Sharma, put halt the Defence Minister for over 40 minutes from the scheduled time which she was supposed to leave.

Governor Najma Heptula steals the show on the inaugural function of Sangai Festival

The inaugural part of delivering speech by the Chief Minister, Governor and the defence Minister ended before 6 pm and the scheduled for departure of Defense Minister Nirmalla Sitaraman was at 6.05 pm, an official source confirmed this newspaper.

However, the mesmerizing - none stop performance which highlighted the mosaic of Manipuri culture made her forgot the scheduled time for departure and keep watching the festival for another 40 minutes.

Her admiration to the cultural performance of the show showed that the term she coined Manipur as a "gem" is not a simple lip service to get applause from the public but she really does sees Manipur as a "gem" .

On the other hand almost all eyes seem to have focused on Dr.Nazma Heptulla as she came with the one of the most aesthetic Manipuri Traditional attires.

What makes the head of the state picked traditional attires is a matter still to be answered by her Excellency, Dr.Nazma Heptulla.

At almost all public occasion Manipur Governor Dr.Najma Heptulla was seen attending with the most aesthetic Manipuri traditional attires.

When women of the state (those holding high profile government job) have almost forgotten or perhaps neglected due to ignorance of the real essence and aesthetic beauty of Manipuri traditional attires, Manipur Governor is once more bringing notice to the beauty of Manipuri attires.

What surprises more is the colour combination of her dresses? Does she hire some fashion designer every time she make-up herself? The answer from the Raj Bhavan is 'No' .

"Sometime her Excellency ordered the traditional weaver to make cloths of her choice, but most Manipuri dresses were gift from various Manipuri fans that she were", a staff from Raj Bhavan said.

Born in Bhopal, in the present Madhya Pradesh, Bollywood actor Amir Khan is her cousin.

She is a painter, musician and admirer of aesthetic culture besides being an experienced politicians who hold many important position in the Union Government.

Her passion for art and music is perhaps the reason for choice of dress that drew attention of every spectator.

It is not about Meitei traditional dress but she like to wear all traditional attires of each community of the state.

"I had seen her wearing the best Tangkhul attires while attending a function of the community," a reporter said to this writer.

Board Director of Manipur Apex Handloom weavers' and Handicrafts' Artisan Co-operative Society , Sougrakpam Bhubon Singh while talking to this newspaper praise the governor for promoting the Manipuri traditional dress with an understanding of value base.

" Participation in the Sangai Festival by the Governess of Manipur with attiring on full traditional dress signifies her commitment in exposing off the world the rich tradition of Manipur and promotion to the nearly three lakhs of weavers living in the handloom sector which extends second largest employment next to agriculture in Manipur.

Her intention with putting on traditional dress may further mean to give message to the people of the state to consume the heart and hard bound products of the state's weavers and it also exemplifies the fact that the governess is truly love the textiles of Manipur as under her initiative the Mission for Economic Empowerment of Textile Artisans and Craftspersons (MEETAC) was recently instituted in the state.

Governor's participation with traditional dress was well plan to convey her real intention to promote the textiles sector of the state.", Bhubon Said.