Manipur Sangai Festival 2022: Key Facts for UPSC

Table of Contents

Why Manipur Sangai Festival 2022 in News?

Union tourism, culture and DoNER minister G Kishan Reddy on November 22, 2022 inaugurated Manipuri Sangai Festival 2022, at the newly built Sangai Ethnic Park in Bishnupur district’s Moirang Khunou.
Manipur Sangai Festival is the biggest state-sponsored tourism event.
The 10-day-long festival will be held in 13 venues across six districts in the northeastern state till November 30.

Also Read: What is Bali Yatra of Odisha? | Significance for UPSC

What is Manipur Sangai Festival?

Every year the State of Manipur celebrates the “Manipur Sangai Festival” from 21st to 30th November. The ‘Festival’ is named after the State animal, Sangai, the brow-antlered deer found only in Manipur.
It started in the year 2010 and has grown over the years into a big platform for Manipur to showcase its rich tradition and culture to the world.
The food and culture, adventure sports and crafts, handlooms and universally-admired dance forms of Manipur cannot find a more appropriate setting.
The festival is labeled as the grandest festival of the State today and helps promote Manipur as a world class tourism destination.
Every edition of the festival showcases the tourism potential of the state in the field of Arts & Culture, Handloom, Handicrafts, Indigenous Sports, Cuisine, Music and Adventure sports of the state etc.

How Manipur Sangai Festival reflects the State’s proud cultural heritage?

- The Manipur Sangai Festival reflects the State’s proud cultural heritage and the love for art which is inherent amongst various tribes inhabiting the State of Manipur.
- The State’s classical dance form, ‘Ras Leela’ is quite famous all over the world for its distinctiveness from any other dance forms in India.
- The Ras Leela forms an important part of the dance performances at the Manipur Sangai Festival besides the various other folk dance performances like the Kabui Naga dance, Bamboo dance, Maibi dance, Lai Haraoba dance, Khamba Thoibi dance etc.

How Manipur Sangai Festival promotes indigenous handlooms?

- The festival brings to light an array of Manipur’s best indigenous handlooms and handicrafts products.
- The themed huts of the variety of tribes at the heritage park represents the living-style of these tribes and exhibit their indigenous products.
- The artistry and creativity of the tribes of Manipur can be seen in their handloom and handicrafts products which are otherwise not widely available in the market.

How Manipur Sangai Festival promotes Sports?

- Indigenous sports are a major highlight of the State’s biggest tourism festival.
- Manipur’s famous martial arts – Thang Ta (a combination Spear & Sword skills), Yubi-Lakpi (a game played with greased coconut like rugby), Mukna Kangjei (a game that combines hockey and wrestling), and Sagol Kangjei- Modern Polo (believed to have evolved in Manipur) forms part of the festival.
- Besides, there are a number of adventure tourism activities that one can indulge in while visiting the State. Adventure sports activities like trekking, white water rafting and parasailing etc. will also form a major part of the festival.

How Manipur Sangai Festival promotes State’s cuisines?

- The Manipur Sangai Festival also introduces visitors to the best of the State’s cuisines at a number of food stalls which remains opened during the festival.
- Manipur’s popular dishes include Nga-thongba (fish curry), Eromba (a dish prepared with boiled vegetables and fermented fish), Ooti (mustard beans), Bora (pakoda), Paknam (a baked cake of gram flour mixed with other ingredients), Singju (a spicy hot traditional salad), and Brown-rice Kheer etc.
- Every Manipuri dish whether vegetarian or non-vegetarian has its own distinctive flavour because of the natural and indigenous ingredients used in preparing them.

The ‘Festival of Oneness’

The theme of the Manipur Sangai Festival 2022 is ‘festival of oneness’.
The ten days festival is expected to attract tourists in Manipur.
It is called as ‘Festival of Oneness’ to encourage a sense of belongingness, and pride in ownership of the land among the people.

Know about Classical Dance Form of Manipur ‘Ras Leela’

The Raas Leela is an important part of the traditional Manipuri culture.
When the dancers perform the Raas Leela, it symbolises the spiritual love for Lord Krishna.
It is one of the most important part of Manipuri classical Indian dance.
The Raas Leela was first started as a dance form in 1779 by Ningthou Ching-Thang Khomba, also known as Rajarshi Bhagya Chandra, a 18th century Meitei monarch.
In Manipur, Raas Leela is big and spiritual. The Manipuri Raas Leela are of five kinds: Vasanta Raas – performed during the full moon of March-Arpil; Maha Raas – only performed on the full moon period of November-December; Nitya Raas; Kunja Raas and; Diba Raas – to be performed only during the day.
The Manipuri Raas Leela is unique, not only in terms of character but also costume.
The look is indigenous and the costume consists of embroidered stiff skirt, light muslin garment on top, white veil and traditional Manipuri jewellery.
In the past, Manipur has hosted Raas Leela Festival where many groups participated.

Also Read: Soorasamharam 2022: The Kanda Sashti festival!

FAQs

Q. What is Manipur Sangai Festiva?

Ans. Every year the State of Manipur celebrates the “Manipur Sangai Festival” from 21st to 30th November. The ‘Festival’ is named after the State animal, Sangai, the brow-antlered deer found only in Manipur.

Q. What is the theme of Manipur Sangai Festival 2022?

Ans. The theme of the Manipur Sangai Festival 2022 is ‘festival of oneness’.

Q. When did Manipur Sangai Festival start?

Ans. Manipur Sangai Festival started in the year 2010 and has grown over the years into a big platform for Manipur to showcase its rich tradition and culture to the world.