4th Sankirtana Day observed

Eminent Cultural Personality, Aribam Syam Sharma, today, graced the 4th Sankirtana Day observance held at the Chandrakirti Auditorium, Palace Compound, Imphal. The function was organised jointly by Department of Art and Culture, Government of Manipur, Manipur State Kala Akademi, Manipur University of Culture, Pala Loishang, Shri Shri Govindaji Temple Board and Manipur Nata Sankirtana Apunba.
Aribam Syam Sharma, Eminent Cultural Personality, speaking at the function as chief guest, said Manipur is a magnificent landwhich has rich creative tradition and culture of its own. It is a talent fertile state that gave birth to many godlike personalities. Stating that there are many Sankirtan in India but the Sankirtan in Manipur is quite different comparing to others, he added that we need to pay reverence to the Gurus who has safeguarded such cultural heritage of the state. He appealed the department concernedto construct a separate place for the Gurus so as to enable to pay homage and respect to the departed gurus who have played a great role in passing down the tradition and culture of Sankirtan.
Stating that the society has changed and become competitive, he said experts need to take up steps to safeguard the heritage that shows our unique identity to the world. He said that the inclusion of the Sankirtana of Manipur to the Intangible Heritage of UNESCO overcoming various obstacles, should be protected and preserved with utmost care. If the aesthetics of Sankirtan is lost amidst the social change, the place occupied by Sankirtan in the Intangible List will eventually vanish and we need to take up steps to preserve the tradition and culture of Sankirtan of Manipur to the flow of the societal changes.