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Our Correspondent
Imphal, Jan. 9 (EMN): An annual Cherry Blossom festival at Mao in Manipur was celebrated virtually with Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh as the chief guest on January 9.
The festival, which featured the picturesque landscape of Mao town adorned with beautiful Cherry blossom flowers, was streamed live from 2 pm on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. Colourful traditional dances and special ballet titled ‘Cherry Nachom’ were other attractions of the virtual event.
Addressing the viewers worldwide from the cabinet hall of Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Imphal, Biren Singh said that Mao is not only a major tourist destination but also a crucial hill station for reaching breathtaking tourist spots like Dzukuo Valley and Mount Iso - the highest peak of Manipur and other places.
Stating that Dzukuo is a national wealth, the chief minister stated that the wildfire that ravaged the hill ranges of the area had died down with the sustained efforts of NDRF, Indian Air Force, SDRF personnel, state police, Fire Service, Forest department, district administration, village volunteers, Manipur Mountaineering and Trekking Association, Assam Rifles etc.
He also stated that the Cherry Blossom Festival of Mao town has already been made a part of the 10-day annual Manipur Sangai Festival held in last part of November.
Though it was a virtual event, this year’s cherry Blossom festival would provide an excellent platform for promoting tourism even as everybody is constrained by the Covid-19 pandemic, Singh stated. He also expressed hope that the virtual event would give hope and inspiration to the viewers around the world during this difficult situation.
The chief minister further stated that Cherry Blossom festival could be an international event in the coming years, adding the state government has planned to invite delegations from countries like Japan where they also celebrate ‘Sakura Festival.’
The virtual Cherry Blossom Mao Festival was jointly organised by the department of Tourism and the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR), Shillong, in association with the organising committee of Flower Festival, Mao.
Tourism minister, Oinam Lukhoi; chairman of Tourism Corporation of Manipur Ltd. (TCML), Ashab Uddin; and Manipur commissioner of Tourism Devesh Deval also attended the event among others.