Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, April 26 2010:
The 3-day festival of Thang-Ta and Indigenous Martial Arts slated at Iboyaima Shanglen, Palace compound, organised by the Kanglei Indigenous Martial Arts and Cultural Society (KIMACS) concluded today.
The concluding function of the festival was graced by MLA Thangjam Nandakishore as chief guest.
KIMACS' president H Sanahal Mangang presided over the function in which joint director of arts and culture, Dr K Sobita, assistant director of youth affairs and sports department T Purnachandra and president of the MPP, Youth Front, M Manitomba attended as guests of honours.
President of the Thang-Ta Foundation of India Premkumar expressed that the Union ministry of sports is likely to recognize the art form very soon.
Once it is recognized, the passage of development of the indigenous art form of Manipur will be sped up.
He further said that after the recognition, School Games Federation of India will also include as one of the events of all India school games meet.
The foundation is planning to host the International Thang-Ta Competition to be held in December this year as part of effort of developing the indigenous art form at the international level.
Speaking as chief guest of the function, MLA Th Nandakishore said with the introduction of various kinds of games in the globe, if the Thang-Ta is also developed suit with time, the same is likely to vanish from the soil of the state.
There is the need for a concerted effort of the NGOs and government together in developing the indigenous art form.
At the concluding part of the function, the chief guest distributed participant certificates to 17 different groups of Thanga-Ta and 10 dance groups.