Manipur: Tamenglong’s Orange festival from December 17

Our Correspondent

Imphal, Dec. 10 (EMN): After a gap of two years, Manipur has taken up necessary steps to successfully organise  the 17th edition of the state-level orange festival in Tamenglong district headquarters located about 150 km west of Imphal from December 17 to the 19th.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh accompanied by Chairman Karam Shyam of the Tourism Corporation of Manipur Limited, Water Resource minister Awangbow Newmai and Tamenglong MLA Janghemlung Panmei chaired a meeting in this regard at the Chief Minister’s secretariat in Imphal recently.

On Friday (Dec.9), an audition for the upcoming Orange Queen contest 2022 was held as part of the festival, wherein 17 beauties from different communities participated in the event.

The Orange Festival is organised every December to promote Tamenglong orange or ‘Tamenglong komla.’

According to the convenor of the Orange Queen Contest 2022, a total of 25 beauties will be selected from the two auditions along with the online audition for the grand finale of the beauty pageant which is scheduled for December 19 at the main venue of the festival.

Music bands from Northeast states will also be invited during the fest besides organising various events such as traditional games, camping and others, he said.

Manipur’s Tamenglong orange, a species of mandarin group and a unique fruit crop found in the state, along with another special variety of chilli called Hathei chilli, has received Geographical Indication (GI) status in 2020.