Imphal: Chief Minister N. Biren Singh inaugurated Mangkang Festival, 2021 cum 13th General Conference of Northern Maram Women Organisation (NMWO) through video conferencing from Chief Minister’s Secretariat Saturday.
Speaking at the occasion, the Chief Minister said that Mangkang is an annual Spring festival of Maram womenfolk. Based on Maram lunar calendar, the festival usually takes place on the 4th day of the new month of Fiibui-kii (March in a leap year) or April (Tingpui-kii) in a regular year.
He said that the festival testifies how advanced Maram women are in civilizational values. It shows their discipline, decency and character, he added. The Chief Minister expressed regret for not able to attend the festival at Maram due to COVID-19 pandemic. He said that he would visit Maram and interact with villagers and womenfolk when COVID-19 cases drop.
N. Biren Singh said he understands that the festival is traditionally celebrated at ancestral Maram Khullen (Maramei Namdi) village. However, in the recent years, as an effort to promote the festival, it is organised at different villages once in three years since 2001.
Cultural items presentations and the Miss Mangkang contest will be the special highlights of the festival which will wind up tomorrow. Forest and Environment Minister Awangbow Newmai, Manipur Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker K. Robindro and MLA Francis Ngajokpa were present at the festival venue while CAF & PD Minister Th. Satyabrata, Advisor to Chief Minister (Health) Dr. Sapam Ranjan and Kakching AC MLA M. Rameshwar were seated at Imphal with the Chief Minister.
