IMPHAL, November 30: The Sangai Festival which carries a mandate of exhibiting local culture, promotion of crafts and cuisine has not emerged into actuality. Many stalls which were supposedly to showcase the resources of the State has left many visitors disappointed.
Many premium stalls of the festival were allotted to private companies like Eastern Motors and Honda. They occupy large spaces of 5/6 stall areas. However, their sales are reported negligible. Festival goers have complained on why the State government had allotted the stalls to the said companies and what the objective is.
“We are not coming to a car mela, we are here to witness a festival which the public wants to see and afford the showcased merchandise, why should car companies be allotted such a large space , we don’t see any such sort in Nagaland’s Hornbill festival. This so called festival looks more like a trade fair,” Ranjit, a visitor said.
It may be mentioned that beside the car stalls, there were also stalls which remained vacant like those of UNACCO, Airtel, Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainable Resources (IBSD), while another stall was selling SERVO engine oils only.
Interestingly, the maximum number of stalls inside the festival venue was, arguably, of toy stalls.
The food stalls which are comparatively lower in number as compared to last year also failed to produce local cuisine beside some fritters (Bora) and Singju. Costumers complained that the menu is exorbitant and lack quality.
It may be mentioned that quality food products which were sold by Classic Hotel is not available this time inclusive of other traditional food varieties. One can of Red Bull costing Rs 100 was sold at Rs 150 at a stall, when enquired about the price hike, it was mentioned by the proprietor that he has to pay a deposit of Rs 10,000 to the Tourism department, which he has to regain in profit from sales during the ten days.
Besides some Muslim food stalls and fast food, there is no exhibit of local cuisine at the festival.