KIMACS against holding Sangai Fest
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 13 2025: The Kanglei Indigenous Martial Arts and Cultural Society (KIMACS) has urged all cultural artists and performers to refrain from participating in this year's Sangai Festival.

In a statement signed by its secretary general, RK Leninsana, the Society described the President's Rule Government's decision to resume the Sangai Festival after a two-year hiatus as ill-timed, given the hardships being faced by internally displaced persons (IDPS) .

KIMACS endorsed the resolution adopted by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) and other organisations to boycott the Sangai Festival.

Saying that KIMACS has been supporting the Sangai Festival since its inception given the platform it provides to promote the State's cultural performers and artist community, the Society added that holding the festival now, however, would be inappropriate.

The Society further stated that the Sangai Festival is neither a cultural nor a religious festival of Manipur.

Noting that tens of thousands of children, elders, men, and women continue to languish in relief camps, KIMACS questioned whether the Government has managed to rehabilitate these IDPs.

Are people able to move freely across the State? Are the National Highways safe now,? it asked.

KIMACS asserted that the Government must explain what assurances it has given to the people to justify hosting the Sangai Festival.

The Society suggested that the Government utilise the Sangai Festival budget for the welfare of IDPs.

Acknowledging the vital role played by the State's cultural performers and artist community in previous editions of the Sangai Festival, KIMACS nonetheless appealed to them to refrain from participating in this year's event.

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