The 2018 edition of Singju festival began in Manipur on Thursday. The Singju festival 2018 was inaugurated at the Lamdeng Makha Leikai Lampak in Manipur’s Imphal West district. Singju is a typical Manipur salad-type dish.
The 12-day festival was organised by Singju Yokhatpa Lup, a singju promotion group in collaboration with local clubs and women associations of the area.
Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Yumnam Joykumar Singh, former MLA W Brajabidhu and Chairman Dr S Manoaton Singh of the Festival Organising Committee attended the inaugural function at the picturesque village located about 15 km west of Imphal.
Speaking on the occasion Deputy CM Joykumar said it is high time to co-operate each other to preserve and protect indigenous culture.
Stating that Singju is one of the most unique food stuffs especially for Meitei’s in the state, he said as this food item is a mixture of many fresh and raw vegetables, it has also a high medicinal value.
He said, like this food item, people from different ethnic groups having different cultural background have been inhabited from time immemorial in the state. Stating that organising such festival will showcase the uniqueness of cultural pluralism, he added “We all need to co-operate each other to strengthen the unity in diversity in the state.”
Joykumar who holds finance portfolio also lauded the steps made by the Festival Organising Committee to showcase indigenous cultural events such as Likon Sanaba, Mukna, Kang and Arambai as a part of the festival.
Chairman Dr S Manaoton Singh of the Festival Organising Committee said Singju festival is not only a food festival but it is a festival to reflect an ethical idea and to foster the banner of unity in the state. “To develop an emotional integrity, we all need to co-operate each other,” he added. W Brajabidhu Singh, ex-MLA also spoke on the importance of maintaining unity in the state.
A number of events like National Film Festival, Shumang Leela, courtyard play, Blood Donation Camp, Tree Plantation and also a number of indigenous games like Mukna, Kang and Arambail etc will also be presented during the 12-day festival.