Thadou Cultural Festival begins in Manipur

IMPHAL — A two-daystate-level Hun Thadou Cultural Festival 2023 was inaugurated at Thomas Ground, Kangpokpi on Tuesday.

During the inauguration, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh was accompanied by ministers, village chiefs and youth leaders among others.

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Addressing the gathering, Biren Singh said that in the last six years, the state government has called for preservation of one’s identities and drug-free society while highlighting that it is the present government which has built traditional huts of all 35 communities at the Sangai Ethnic Park in Moirang Khunou. This is recognition and respect from the government for the different communities residing together in the state, he said.

Manipur is made up of various communities residing together and this is the beauty of Manipur and the beauty of India, he said hinting at the unity in diversity of the state.

Further, highlighting that there are more than a lakh of drug abusers in the State, Biren Singh said that he will continue to fight for total eradication of illegal drugs and stop poppy cultivation in the state.

Biren Singh stressed on steps being taken up in the state and highlighted schemes like Chief Minister gi Hakselgi Tengbang and PMJAY. He added that during the last cabinet meeting, the government decided to launch the ‘Manipur One Family One Livelihood Scheme’ under which anyone from a family with no source of income can apply for a loan of INR 10 lakh with 30 percent grant, for which, an amount of INR 100 crore had been allocated in the budget for the same.

He also highlighted the need to screen illegal immigrants from entering the state, for which, a cabinet sub-committee has been formed with Minister Letpao Haokip as the chairman along with Water Resources Minister Awangbow Newmai and Education Minister Th Basanta Singh to identify illegal immigrants who had fled from strife-torn Myanmar and also to set up temporary shelter homes for them so that they can return back to their country again.

The Chief Minister further said that Thadou is one of the biggest communities in the state who has been living in Manipur since ancient times.

Biren Singh also appreciated the All Manipur Christian Association for their declaration to fight against the drug menace and poppy cultivation in the State.

Further appealing to the people of Kangpokpi to take a pledge against illegal drugs and poppy cultivation, the Chief Minister said soon the people will get to see some positive changes in the fight to eradicate drugs.

In her presidential speech, Commerce & Industries Minister Nemcha Kipgen said the Hun Festival is one of the biggest festivals of the Thadou community.

An important feature of this festival is that the young children pray before their grandparents seeking their blessings, she said.

Emphasising on the theme of the festival is ‘Drug-free Society,’ she said that it is important to start from the children and to education them for the cause

She further wished that the festival will take an important role in making the state a drug free society and bring more peace and unity among the communities of the state.

On their arrival, the Chief Minister and other dignitaries were accorded a warm traditional welcome by the people of Kangpokpi.

Traditional songs and dances marked the opening session of the festival.

During the inaugural programme, Biren Singh also released a souvenir in connection with the festival.