Imphal: Governor of Manipur, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, graced the inaugural ceremony of the 1st North East Waree Leeba Festival, 2026, held today at Irom Meijrao Mamang Community Hall in Imphal West district. The Governor paid floral tribute to the portraits of three departed Waree Leeba gurus and felicitated gurus from Assam and Tripura in the function. The five-day festival is being organised by Repertory of Waree Leeba, Khurai in association with Irom Meijrao Women for Cultural Centre.
Addressing the inaugural session of the Festival, the Governor congratulated the Repertory of Waree Leeba, Manipur, for bringing together artists from across the North Eastern region to celebrate and preserve this unique storytelling tradition. He observed that Waree Leeba is not merely a form of entertainment but a living tradition through which the knowledge, beliefs, myths and legends of ancestors are passed down from one generation to another. Emphasising the enduring relevance of traditional storytelling, he said that Waree Leeba entertains, educates and conveys values that remain relevant to society. He added that preserving this tradition is essential for safeguarding an important part of Manipur’s cultural identity and memory. The Governor expressed confidence that the festival would mark the beginning of sustained efforts to promote this unique storytelling tradition and strengthen cultural cooperation across the North Eastern region.
During the function, the Governor listened to a Waree Leeba presentation of an episode from the Mahabharata, narrated by renowned artist Shri Shyamkanhai Singh. Appreciating the artist’s storytelling skills, expressive narration and traditional presentation, the Governor thanked him for bringing the epic to life through the art of Waree Leeba.
Art & Culture Minister Kh. Loken Singh, gurus and artists attended the programme.
