Manipur is gearing up to host the biggest 10-day cultural extravaganza- the Manipur Sangai Festival 2022 from November 21-30. This unique state festival organized by the Department of Tourism, Government of Manipur showcases the rich cultural diversity of the State beyond borders.
Recently, the city of Joy Kolkata witnessed the prelude and curtain-raiser event for the much-anticipated ‘Manipur Sangai Festival 2022’, a tourism extravaganza promoting the rich cultural legacy of Manipur – a valley surrounded by nine hills referred to as God’s hidden treasure.
A microcosm of unique cultural diversity, the festival will showcase the state’s tourism potential in the field of Arts & Culture, Handloom, Handicrafts, Indigenous Sports, Cuisine, Music, Adventure sports, homestay, songs and dances, heritage walk, cherry blossom etc., and is an attempt to promote Manipur as the next tourism destination.
The curtain raiser event held on 23rd Oct in Kolkata solely focused on displaying the significance of Manipur’s rich cultural heritage and creating a shared value.
Manipur upholds the uniqueness of the origins of modern polo, none transplantable Shirui lily flower, only floating Loktak lake, black rice and black nungbi pottery.
It is worth noting that the state government is installing a gigantic Polo statue above the hilltop of Ebudhou Marjing hills, a semi-god who started Sagol Kangjei (polo). Besides, implementing the project will enhance tourist footfall, generating employment opportunities for the local populace.
“In the 1850s, the Britishers observed Manipuris play a sport using a pony and a hockey-like stick. Influenced by the game, the Britishers later formed a polo club in Silchar. As per records, the Manipur King Kanba invented the game in the 14th century BC. While the first polo match was in 33 AD by King Nongda,” informed an official statement.
The 2022 cultural extravaganza also called the ‘Festival of Oneness’ will be spread across 12 venues with multiple activities and visitors can witness 34 Traditional indigenous huts, Manipur Weaves Fashion Shows, Sangai Run, Tourism Pavilion, Longman, Flower Show, Indigenous Cultural Programmes, Night Tourism, Handloom and Handicrafts, Tug-of-War, Arambai Show, Mukna competition, Yubi Lakpi, Sagol Lamjei (Horse Race), Arambai, Men’s International Polo Tournament at Mapal Kangjeibung, CM’s Sagol Kangjei Tournament at Kangla, Film Screenings, MMA among others.
Dubbed after the State Animal, the brow-antlered deer or Eld’s deer or Sangai deer, the festival celebrates the uniqueness of its only home -Manipur.
It brings to light 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, Sa phee-lan-phee and Moirang phee.
