IMPHAL, April 6: The 1st Thadou Cultural Festival, upholding rich cultural heritage of the Thadou Kuki tribe, kicked off amidst fanfare at Ngahmun, Sadar Hills today under the theme “Culture and Identity”.
The three day long festival which will conclude on April 8 would be an extravaganza of colourful event mark by performances of cultural dance, songs, seminars on the origins of Thadous, literature, folk tales and musical gigs by various artistes.
The festival was inaugurated by Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, Th Lokeshore, today in the presence of Thadou intellects, socials leaders, chiefs and Thadous from different parts of the State and Myanmar.
Marking the inaugural function, the Speaker took part in the enactment of “Lomkivah”, celebrating the sprouting of seeds sowed. During this time of the year the Thadous indulged in dancing, singing, drinking of rice beer and other forms of merry making with pomp and gaiety, said an official of the festival.
The speaker also inaugurated a community hall and unveiled a monolith dedicating the festival at the venue.
Addressing the gathering, Lokeshore lauded the initiative of the Thadou elders, who selflessly are trying to preserve the legacy “culture and identity” by sorting out such important event so as to inspire the young generation and their spirit of safeguarding their culture and identity.
He continued that when we ourselves fail to protect and safeguard our own culture and identity no one will be able to make up the same for us.
Encouraging the initiative, the Speaker assured to apprise the Chief Minister and concerned ministers, of the initiative to help uphold the ‘culture and identity’ of the Thadou at a larger scale and periodically.
MLA Nemcha Kipgen, the local MLA of the area, maintained that the festival is a platform for the Thadous to come together and thrive further. She further appealed to the government to give due recognition to the cultural fest as one of the State festivals.
According to Mangboi Kipgen, secretary of the festival committee, the main objective of the festival is to build a platform for all the Thadou speaking tribes under the Kuki nomenclature which would eventually pave way for the Kuki family to grow bigger.
Thadou is one of the tribes under the Kuki nomenclature, and not Kuki as wrongly perceived by many, he asserted before adding that the festival aims at upholding the interest of the tribe, and has no political interest.
Shedding lights on the history of Thadous, Dr. Ngamkhohao Haokip said that the ‘Hun’ (the Thadou Cultural Festival) is significant for two reasons- firstly, it is never celebrated before in such a magnificent manner and secondly, such an important festival is celebrated at the right time and at the right place.
He also forwarded few recommendations to the State Chief Minister in order to give the Thadous more space and allow to develop and to grow themselves and give them the chance to serve their State and the country in more befitting manner.
The recommendations are the ‘Hun’ (the Thadou Cultural Festival) be recognized as one of the important State festivals and declare April 7 as Thadou ‘Hun’ festival day; the duration of Thadou programme in the All India Radio, Imphal Station and Doordarshan, Imphal Kendra be extended to two hour duration each; Thadou Dialect be accorded the status of second official languages of the State again as it used to be; Thadou Language Development Cell be opened in an appropriate department under the State Government and Post Graduate Course in Thadou Language be opened in Manipur University and IGNTU and ‘1917-1919 War Day’ be officially observed in the state.
Other dignitaries who were present during the festival include IFC minister, Ngamthang Haokip, who is also the chairman of the festival, Saikul MLA-Yamthong Haokip, P Doungel, IPS-ADGP, Dr Ngamkhohao Haokip Tongmang Haokip, IPS (Retired) etc.
Apart from cultural and musical performances, a skit about the Anglo-Kuki war was staged by Thadous youngsters, which was also the crowd drawer of the day’s inaugural event.
In addition to colourful cultural features, traditional games and sports like wrestling, jumping over Mithun, long jump, weight lifting etc will also be other highlights during the festival.
Moreover, heritage site exhibiting Thadou Inn and its components, antiques used by the early Thadous dwellers, are also main attractions of the festivals.