Curtain raiser for Manipur Sangai Festival 2022 held

Last Updated on February 17, 2023 by SPN Editor

For the first time, Manipur Sangai Festival is organising the Curtain raiser event outside the State. Kolkata is hosting the curtain raiser event for the much-anticipated ‘Manipur Sangai Festival 2022’, a tourism extravaganza promoting the beauty and rich cultural legacy of Manipur, on Sunday at City Centre Salt Lake.

The unique Manipur Sangai Festival 2022, also called the ‘Festival of Oneness’, organised by the Department of Tourism, Government of Manipur, is scheduled to be held from November 21 to 30 and aims to showcase the best of Manipur.

The curtain raiser of the Manipur Sangai Festival 2022 event aims to create awareness about the magnificence of Manipur, its celebrations of its rich cultural legacy and diversity of the state beyond borders, and its eco-tourism potential, the organiser said in a release.

The festival celebrating the magnificence of Manipur as the Jewel of India will feature 34 Traditional indigenous huts, Fashion Shows showcasing rich Manipur weaves, Sangai Run, Tourism Pavilion, Flower Shows, Indigenous Cultural Programmes, Night Tourism, Handloom and Handicrafts, Tug-of-War, Arambai Show, Mukna competition, Yubi Lakpi, Sagol Lamjei (Horse Race), Men’s International Polo Tournament at Mapal Kangjeibung, CM’s Sagol Kangjei Tournament at Kangla, Film Screenings, MMA among many others, a release stated.

Manipur upholds the uniqueness of the origins of modern polo, Shirui lily flower, only floating Loktak lake, black rice and black nungbi pottery. The curtain raiser event is therefore an attempt to share this uniqueness of Manipur beyond her borders, the release added.

Promoting the preservation and conservation of the State Animal, the brow-antlered deer or Sangai deer, the festival celebrates the uniqueness of its only home -Manipur. The festival attempts to spread awareness about this rare endangered deer endemic to Manipur.

The festival also promises to showcase some of the best indigenous handlooms and handicraft products. One can witness the creativity of the tribes through their unique handloom and handicrafts exhibited in the global arena along with the three GI tagged Handlooms from Manipur – Wangkhei Phee, Saphee-lan-phee and Moirang phee, the release added.

The Manipur Sangai Festival attracts more than 50,000 attendees including national leaders, policy-makers, industry experts, business delegates and exhibitors from countries like Russia, South Korea, Egypt, Hawai, Laos, Maldives, Thailand, Myanmar, Taiwan, U.A.E., Zimbabwe etc.

Within the State, the curtain raiser events of the Manipur Sangai Festival 2022 will be held at Behiang, Khuga and Makhel while the opening ceremony will be held at Moirang Khunou where the festival will continue for 10 days.

The venue at Moirang Khunou will have different facilitics and activities including children amusement parks, traditional huts, cultural programmes, departmental stalls, commercial stalls, food courts, fashion shows, WW-ii Museum, Sangai Run.

BOAT and Hapta Kangjeibung, which have been the main venues of the festival since its inception, will also host the festival for the entire 10 days.

The closing ceremony of the Manipur Sangai Festival 2022 will be held at BOAT whereas activities and facilities in these two venues include cultural shows, performances by troupes from various states and countries, departmental stalls, foreign stalls, food stalls, children’s entertainment programme and activities, meet the star programme, literature meet, flower show.

The Manipur Sangai Festival 2022 will also be held at Ibudhou Marjing complex, Heingang in Imphal East for three days with activities and facilities like night tourism, tent city, cultural programmes and food stalls, handloom and handicraft stalls, tug of-war, Arambai show, Mukna competition, Yubi lakpi, horse race and tunnel light.

Mapal Kangjeibung will host the Men’s International Polo Tournament.

Mao in Senapati district will also host the festival for three days with activities like Sangai Run Marathon, flower show, cultural programmes, interaction with senior citizens, and rock garden.

Khuman Lampak will host sports activities and MMA tournament while there will be film screening at MSFDS auditorium as part of the Manipur Sangai Festival 2022.