IMPHAL, December 13 (Newmai News Network): The 2-day long Zeliangrong Folk Festival 2012 organised under the theme “Peace and Solidarity” by the Society for Promotion of Community Task (SPCT) at Namching (Maha Kabui) ground, Keithelmanbi in the outskirt of Imphal concluded on Thursday.
Speaking on the occasion, Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam remarked that the Zeliangrong community has a rich cultural heritage and described this community as a peace-loving community.
He added each and every ethnic community in Manipur has its own heritage culture, and this is the very part of the whole heritage of the state while appealing that no group should infringe upon the harmonious relations of these communities in the name of safeguarding one’s own identity.
The Deputy Chief Minister further asserted that this diversity is playing a big role in bringing communal harmony in the state and commented it is time for everybody to work unitedly towards all round development of the state so as to make it a prosperous land.
Later, replying to a memorandum submitted to him by SPCT, Gaikhangam assured that he will make maximum efforts to construct a Zeliangrong cultural complex office building at Tongjil Maril after preparing a detailed project report and the proposal will be intimated to the concerned ministry.
Gaikhangam also generously donated Rs 50,000 to the organizing committee of the festival.
Social Welfare Minister AK Mirabai, who was also present at the event which displayed different cultural song and dances, said though Manipur is a small state, it is adorned with different traditional cultures.
She said the Zeliangrong Folk Festival is held as part of the preservation of the community’s age-old culture.
“We should keep up the concept of oneness and try to reaffirm ourselves to protect the integrity of Manipur leaving aside the idea of dissolution.”
IFCD Minister Ngamthang Haokip also took part in the function.
He commented that the various cultural heritages of the state are now continuously on modification process to beautify them. “However, we should keep our art, culture, and tradition in their original forms.”
T Manga Vaiphei, chairman, Manipur Tribal Development Corporation, MTDC and MLAs Janghemlung Panmei and RK Imo were also present at the function.