Imphal, October 26: The State Tourism Department in association with other agencies is all set to organise the biggest tourism festival, Manipur Tourism Festival, 2006 at Imphal from November 6 to 9.The festival would be one of its kind and the largest festival to be organised in Manipur covering the entire facets of tourism and other related activities with special impetus on art and culture, flora and fauna, handicrafts and handloom, indigenous sports and eco-tourism potential of Manipur, apart from conducted tours to major places of tourist interest with trained guides.

Announcing the proposed festival while addressing a press conference at Hotel Imphal here today, Tourism Director A Ibocha said the main theme of the festival is to project and showcase Manipur as one of the favourite tourist destinations and to generate a feeling of communal harmony and foster a sense of brotherhood among the people.

Apart from the local communities, efforts would be given in full thrust to attract both domestic as well as international tourists by way of mailers, enhancement of information through websites, brochures and advertisement at the National level, the Tourism Director said.

Giving the details of the itinerary of the proposed festival to be organised at an estimated cost of Rs 15 lakhs, the Tourism Director said the proposed festival would have various venues depending on the various activities such as art and cultural presentation, exhibition for handloom and handicrafts, indigenous game presentation, adventure and eco-tourism activities.

Apart from show-casing the rich cultural heritage of the people through presentation of dance and music and shumang leela, a unique exhibition of 200 rare species of Orchids found in the State would be held at the mela ground of Mapal Kangjeibung, he informed.

To give a feel of the indigenous sporting activities of the people, the event will provide venues for showcasing the different indigenous games like Polo (both Pana and international polo, Arambai show, Mukna, Yubi Lakpi, Thang-Ta (Manipuri martial arts) at Hafta Kangjeibung and Hiyang Tannaba (boat race) at Kangla moat/Thangapat, the Tourism Director said.

On showcasing the potential of adventure and eco-tourism potential in the State, the Tourism Director said all the adventure and eco-tourism activities will be handled by the Manipur Mountaineering and Trekking Association.

This would include para sailing at Koirengei airfield, general obstacle adventure at Lamdan (Manipur Adventure Park), rock climbing demonstration at Lamdan, white river rafting at Imphal river, hiking and trekking expedition in and around various hills of Imphal and cave expedition at Tharon cave in Tamenglong district, he added.

Jet Airways would subsidise the ticket fare for the tourists from outside Manipur who would like to come and enjoy the festival, while Seven Sisters Tourism Services would organise local tour packages at nominal charges during the festival, he said detailing that the proposed route-I of the conducted tour would start from Govindajee temple and cover war cemetery, State Museum, Sacred fire at Andro, Andro Cultural complex, lunch at Kaina and Khongjom while the proposed route-I would start from Polo ground and cover Govindajee temple, India Peace memorial, Maibam Lotpa Ching (Red hill), Loukoipat, Sadu Chiru Waterfall, INA Memorial complex at Moirang.

Responding to a question, the Tourism Director said that necessary arrangement for giving clearance to foreign tourists who would like to participate in the festival are being worked with the Union Ministry concerned apart from having already started publicity through National media.

Talks have also been initiated with major airlines which have Imphal as a destination to carry the brochures of the festival in their in-flights as one of the publicity tool and to tie up with the hotels at Imphal for providing accommodation to the visiting tourists, he disclosed.

Efforts are also being made by Nest Advertising Agency, which is one of the managerial partners in organising the festival to invite five cultural troupes from each of the north eastern States to take part in the festival.

Comment