IMPHAL, NOVEMBER 20: Festive mood filled the air here on Sunday evening as streets were illuminated with the coulourful lights in view of the Manipur Sangai festival which begins from tomorrow amidst the public grievances over the demonetization and economic blockade issues.
The annual 10-day tourism festival, which was renamed as Manipur Sangai Festival 2016 seven years ago, is being organised in order to showcase the uniqueness of the shy and gentle brod-antlered deer (Cervus eldi eldi) locally known as Sangai which is found only in Manipur’s floating Keibul Lamjao National Park located in the Loktak lake and to further promote the border state as a world class tourism destination.
As done in the previous years, the festival is expected to see many foreign delegates. Besides, it will have a Thailand pavilion among the 300 stalls which included 43 for various State government departments and 35 for handlooms, officials here said. Traditional games and sports will also be the main attraction of the festival.
Chief Minister U Hoang Ngai of Myanmar’s Chin state led 8-member delegation including three ministers arrived at Moreh, the border commercial town about 110 km south of here, by road to attend the Manipur Sangai festival beginning tomorrow, reports said.
The visiting Chief Minister of Chin state will join Manipur Governor Dr. Najma A Heptulla and the Chief Minister O Ibobi besides Ambassador Kenji Hiramatsu of Japan Embassy to inaugurate the 10-day festival. Delegations from Thailand and Sri Lanka will also showcase and promote art and culture, handloom, handicrafts and fine arts, indigenous sports, cuisines and music, eco & adventure sports and witnessed the scenic natural beauty of the State.
One dies in blast
One person was killed when a bomb believed to be an Improvised Explosive Device exploded at Singjamei area in Imphal West district on Sunday.
The incident took place at the road median of the Imphal-Moreh highway near the UCO bank branch at Singjamei Chingamathak Nameirakpam Leikai under Singjamei Police station around 8:15 p.m. sources said. The victim has been identified as one Binod Rai Kumar (28), a salesman at a hardware shop in Chingamathak. Police has registered a case and investigation is going on. No armed groups operating in the state has claimed responsibility for the day’s incident till the report goes to the press.
