Our Correspondent
Imphal, Nov. 11 (EMN): President of India Ram Nath Kovind will inaugurate the 8th Manipur Sangai Festival on Nov. 21, said Dr. Sapam Ranjan, chairman of Tourism Corporation Manipur Limited.
Stating that this year, the people of Manipur will witness a grand festival. He said that the goal of the festival was to ‘double the number of attendees.’ This year the festival will be held at different venues including Hatta Kangjeibung, Khuman Lampak Sports Complex in Imphal east district and Lamboi Khongnangkhong in Imphal west district and at Sendra, Takmu water Sports Complex and Keibul in Bishnupur district.
The festival is expected to welcome 50,000 attendees including national leaders, policy makers, industry experts, business delegates and exhibitors from over 20 countries.
To make the festival a success and to promote Manipur tourism, marketing and publicity campaign for the festival have been expanded in different cities all over India through multiple platforms including print and digital, social media, radio, television, billboards and other on-site publicity activities engaging airports and metro trains etc., he added.
He further said that before the inauguration of the festival, a half marathon and other races will be conducted in the morning followed by a curtain raiser at Keibul Lamjao by the Chief Minister N. Biren Singh in the afternoon on November 19. The inaugural function will take place at Hatta Kangjeibung on November 21, 2017, where cultural activities of the different communities of the State and other States of India as well as International artists and cultural troupe will take place throughout the festival at the Bhagyachandra Open Air Theatre (BOAT). Besides photography exhibition, MTF World War II exhibition, flower show, theme parks, food stall and other entertainment programmes will also be a part of the showcase at the main venue. Indigenous sports and fun activities for children will be conducted at the Khuman Lampak sports complex.
The venue at Lamboi Khongnangkhong will host biggest number of commercial stalls from Manipur, different states of the country and abroad in addition to tethered Hot Air Balloons which will be the main attraction.
Mapal Kangjeibung will host exciting polo matches between teams from Manipur representing India and other countries. On Nov. 26, a boat race (Hiyang Tannaba) will be held at the South-Western part of the Kangla Moat where boat racers dressed in indigenous attires will compete at the race, the Chairman added. To showcase the immense tourism potential of Loktak Lake and its adjoining areas, cultural event with a theme centred on the culture of Loktak Lake, modern polo and the endangered brow-antlered deer (Sangai) will be held on the evening of Nov. 22 and 23rd r at Takmu Water Sports Complex at Loktak Lake along with several water activities in Bishnupur District.
He also said that for the first time, the state is going to host the North East Development Summit during the Manipur Sangai Festival to develop the North East Region with special focus on Manipur by inviting investors and other stakeholders from across India and other countries to explore business opportunities in Manipur. The summit will be inaugurated by the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind on Nov. 21.
Keeping in view of the large traffic volume expected during the festival, the State Police Department has charted out routes to ease the traffic movement.
CCTV cameras will be installed at all the main venues. In view of the multiple venues at this edition of the festival, the Tourism Department has organised a free shuttle service, comprising 40 Tata Wingers fitted with GPS devices to shuttle between the four main venues Hatta Kangjeibung, Khuman Lampak Sports Complex in Imphal East district and Mapal Kangjeibung, Lamboi Khongnangkhong in Imphal West District.
The Tourism Department will also be offering free Wi-Fi services in and around the main venue at Hatta Kangjeibung through Reliance Jio to cater the needs of the participants.
The Tourism Department will issue identity cards for those media persons without DIPR identity card. However, media persons having DIPR Identity cards will be given free entry to the venues this year as a step towards giving increases media coverage to the festivals, he added.
