By : Roshnikumar Ningombam
Sangai festival, annual cultural festival organised by Manipur Tourism Department is making a dent in minds of the people of the state as well as the neighbouring state. The Festivals, which aim at promoting Manipur as a world class tourism destination, were successful and well received by various people of Manipur as well as Tourists who had come to see the festivals. However there has been criticism of promoting non-indigenous aspects rather than home grown artifacts and products.
Even the organizers claimed Sangai festivals presented the different facts of Manipur in terms of Arts and Culture, Indigenous Sports, Eco and Adventures Tourism avenue. The festival has earned the reputation of facilitating traders from outside the state to showcase their merchandise.
In the light of this murmuring about the cultural extravaganza of the state, the organizer Manipur Tourism Department needs to check some checklists beforehand to ensure that the festival represent the people of Manipur.
The Department of Tourism can look at the checklists for Sangai Festival- 2015
1) All the activities related with Sangai Festival should be done transparently in such a manner that it directly benefits the indigenous people of Manipur
2) Indigenous holistic approach should be adopted in all aspects
3) In order to prevent flowing out of money to outside the state, the Department of Tourism, Government of Manipur should promote solely local entrepreneurs; this would pave the way to development tourism in the state in the long run
4) Promotional activities of the Festival should be done to encourage participation of local artisans, firms, people
5) It also important to ensure that local products showcased properly and only home-grown produces are available at the venue of the exhibition
6) All the infrastructures and design should be done local firms and only local made products should be used
7) Communication medium should be in local flavor but unique in taste
8) Only locals firms specialized in the concern trades should be allowed to participate in the tenders for stage, decoration, stalls, lights, etc
9) Invitation cards, gifts and other required materials should be designed with and made of local products
10) With an aim to provide jobs to locals, the organizers should employ only indigenous people in the works related to Sangai Festival.
11) Considering the present situation in the state, inter-ethnic interaction and bring them together is very important, so the festival should be a platform to display the mélange of Manipuri culture, tradition, customs and rituals.
12) And information on tourist sites in Manipur, how to reach there, where to stay and other details should be available at the venue of Sangai Festival for non-local tourists and guests.
Image Source : e-pao.net
