The two-day first ever state level Barak Festival which is underway at the hill district headquarters of Senapati concluded on Friday evening amidst the sound of traditional instruments of different tribes.
Senapati is located about 60 km north of Manipur’s state capital.
Health and family welfare L Jayentakumar Singh,Education Minister Th Radheshyam singh and Phungyar MLA Khasim Vashum were the chief guest, president and guest of honour of the cultural session of the closing function.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Jayentakumar expressed the desire to develop a cultural complex in the Senapati district considering the rich culture of the five major tribes of the district. He also assured that a trauma centre and blood bank unit will be opened at the Senapati district hospital at the earliest. Education Minister Radheshyam also spoke on the occasion.
Cultutal dances and musical shows of different communities including the Khamba Thoi dance and Thang-Ta (martial arts) show of the majority community-Meitei were the main highlights of the day.
In the evening, Public health and engineering minister and Mao MLA Losii Dikho and Karong MLA DD Thaisii were the chief guest and guest of honour. Sharing his opinion during the evening session, Minister Dikho appealed to the people to bridge the communication gap between the different communities living in the state through communal harmony.
Miss Barak beauty contest, Tribal euphony 2018, Barak Voice hunt 2018 were the main highlights for the evening.
The state level barak festival was formally inaugurated by the state Chief Minister N Biren Singh.
The festival was held to protect and conserve Barak river which originates from the hills of Liyai village in Manipur’s Senapati district and flows down through Senapati and Tamenglong districts before crossing over into Assam’s Cachar district and then into Bay of Bengal via Bangladesh, provides livelihood to five tribes – Mao, Maram, Poumai, Thangal and Zeliangrong in Senapati district alone.