Sangai Festival kick off amid razzmatazz
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 21 2017:
President of India Ram Nath Kovind, inaugurated the 8th Manipur Sangai festival at Bheigyachandra Open Air Theatre (BOAT), today.
Other than the President, the First Lady of India, Savita Kovind, Governor Dr Najma Heptulla, Union Minister of State Tourism, K Alphons, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Suresh Prabhu, Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang, Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu and Chief Minister N Biren Singh as the chief guest, guests of honour and president respectively.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the festival, President Kovind said that the festival is the perfect gateway to showcase the cultural diversity and richness of Manipur, comprising its various communities and beautiful social fabric.
The food and culture, adventure sports and crafts, handlooms and universally-admired dance forms of Manipur cannot find a more appropriate setting, he said before a huge crowd which had turned out to attend the inauguration function.
Taking note of the largest fresh water lake in the North East, the President said that it is rare to come across a location as spectacular as Loktak Lake and added that it is home to the only floating National Park in the world, the Keibul Lamjao National Park.
Manipur's cultural traditions, its social, religious and ethnic mosaic, and its history of courage and resilience are an inspiration for everybody in India, said the President and added that the war of 1891 saw the brave people of Manipur resisting the colonial powers in a manner that has few parallels.
The martyrs of 1891 are heroes who will always be remembered for their contribution to the cause of "our freedom and human liberty, said the President and added that to every Indian the great Bir Tikendrajit and his comrades are cherished icons.
After about half a century of the war of 1891, Manipur
was the theatre of some of the most bitterly fought battles of World War II, recalled the President.
Today, the War Memorial in Imphal and the War Cemetery serve as reminders of those times.
Ironically, those war relics today have international tourism potential and attract visitors from the West and from Japan.
But in the 1940s, by taking the brunt of the war on its soil, Manipur in a sense protected the rest of India.
Every citizen in our country is forever grateful, he said.
Ram Nath Kovind said that Manipur is India's window to Southeast Asia and a key player in the Central Government's Act East Policy.
As a result, there is a concentrated effort to quickly develop connectivity projects, the most prominent being the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway.
He stated that additionally, an air cargo terminal complex is being planned at Tulihal International Airport.
Rail links are being enhanced.
Jiribam is connected by a broad gauge line, and Imphal railway station has already been inaugurated.
The President expressed confidence that the efforts and the partnership between the Union and State Governments, will bear fruit.
Speaking at the event, Dr Najma Heptulla expressed gratitude to President Ram Nath Kovind for his special affection to the North East region of India.
She stated that the State Government and the Tourism Department are making all efforts to transform the State into a tourist destination as the State has all the potential to become one of the favourite tourist destinations in the North East region.
The festival is held to showcase the rich culture, tradition, heritage and the handloom and handicraft of the State as well as the famous game of Polo.
She also highlighted the world's largest women market, the Ima market, in her speech and added that Manipuri women are already empowered and expressed gratitude to the State Government for accepting her as the first woman Governor of Manipur.
Manipur is a bio-diversity hotspot and with its rich heritage and abundance of flora and fauna, can be transformed into a tourist hub, she said.
The Governor also stated that the State used to be known for its law and order problems rather than its beauty and human resources but the present State Government has been successful in creating confidence among the people of the State.
She added that Manipur has the Manipur University of Culture, which is the only second such university in the country and the young boys and girls of the State are excellent in different games and sports and always bring glory for the country from time to time.
Union Minister of State Tourism, K Alphons opined that Manipur is God's own paradise and such an incredible land with amazing people, wonderful music, dance and dresses and having lots of talents, is hard to find anywhere in the world.
He said that North East India was completely ignored by the mainland people for the past 66 years and that ends with the North East summit held today.
He stated that he is coming back to the State on February next year and will visit all the place of the State with tourism potential.
He also assured to meet the people and make the State a prime destination for tourism in North East India.
Alphons added that the Union Government has sanctioned Rs 169 crore to make it a reality.
Speaking at the event, Chief Minister N Biren Singh said that today is a historic day as for the first time, the festival is being held across different venues apart from the home of Manipur State animal Sangai at Keibul Lamjao.
A new era of peace and development has come in the State with the new State Government in power, he added.
Biren further stated that the State Government will be approaching the Union Government for a few mega projects to be taken up in the State concerning the tourism sector, overall tourism development in Loktak lake, cable car project and strengthening of tourism infrastructure in the hill districts of the State.
He also announced that direct flight from Imphal to Delhi will begin from January 1, 2018 .
Biren further said that to promote the concept for the North East tourism circuit, the Uddan scheme will be accorded as the State Government's first priority.
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