'Many still longing to visit Manipur'
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 29 2014 :
Many Manipuris settling in Myanmar are yearning to visit Manipur, but they could not do so during this year's Manipur Sangai Festival due to financial constraints and short notice.
According to Kakchingta-bam Sundergopal Sharma, a Myanmarese Manipuri, who attended the ongoing Manipur Sangai Festival, said that they got information about this year's festival only on November 19 .
He said that he came along with 64 other Manipuris to witness the tourism festival.
Saying that he visited the State during last year's Sangai Festival as well, Sundergopal urged the State Government to invite them in advance next year.
Contending that many other Myanmarese Manipuris also want to visit Manipur, Sundergopal said that they however did afford to visit the State as a tourist/visitor.
If the State Government invites them as the delegates of the Manipur Sangai Festival, these problems would be easily solved, he added.
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On the otherhand, Sundergopal expressed satisfaction on the assurance given by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi to them during a brief interaction.
He said that the Chief Minister had assured them to invite them in advance as delegates in next year's festival.
This year, he said that they even faced problem in getting inside the festival venue as they did not have delegate cards.
Sundergopal said that they bought tickets and stood in queue as normal visitors.
He also thanked the people of the State for extending help to them from the very first day they landed in Imphal.
They took the Manipuris of the neighbouring country at different places to show various sites of attraction and historical places, Sundergopal said.
Saying that he is a resident of Mandalay Bamon Khunjao, Sundergopal said that around 20,000 people of around 200 surnames of Manipuri origin are there in Mandalay.
Sundergopal Sharma also said that Hijam Irabot used to stay in their locality when Irabot was in Myanmar.
Sundergopal said that they are still protecting the culture and tradition of Manipur in Myanmar.
Sita Kumari, another Manipuri visitor from Myanmar, said that she has seen the beautiful places of Manipur and Ima Keithel and also witnessed the rich Manipuri cultural items.
She said that those items which she saw in Manipur were quite different from the one they used to see in Myanmar.
Sita Kumari also said that the foods of Manipur are much spicy than they have in Myanmar.
Saying that she has bought phanek and other traditional clothes, she said and added that she would love to visit Manipur again.
It may be mentioned that Manipuris from Myanmar will leave for home tomorrow along with the other delegates who have come in Manipur on November 21 in Golden Myanmar charter flight.
Manipur Sangai Festival will conclude on Nov 30 .