Following the 2nd Matam Ishei Festival, 2015 by Best of Apunba Manipur Matam Ishei Kanglup (AMMIK) yesterday here at Lamyanba Shanglen, Palace Compound, the XIIIth Manipur Matam Ishei Numit, 2015 with XIIth Best of AMMIK, 2015 Mega Final was held today.
The competition was based on Patriotic and Manipuri Folk songs. 12 selected participants, 3 each from Imphal East & West Centres, Thoubal Centre and Bishnupur Centre took part in the competition.
Building up of peace and integrity through patriotic and folk songs is the theme behind organizing the song competition “Best of Apunba Manipur Matam Ishei Kanglup (AMMIK)” every year.
While speaking to Imphal Times on the sideline of the function, Mayengbam Dhananjoy, Joint Secretary AMMIK, said AMMIK strongly believes that spreading of folk and patriotic songs and popularizing our folklore could bring that much needed sense of belongingness, integrity and responsibility amongst the inhabitants of Manipur. Due to the continuing unrest in the state, the number of participants in yesterday’s Matam Ishei Festival was very less, however we were very happy to have at least four participants from hill districts, shared Dhananjoy. He said AMMIK is planning to organize the festival in a grander scale so that more vibrant ethnic groups and communities could gather and participate. Konjengbam Romesh of Imphal was adjudged the winner and was awarded a cash prize of Rs. 15,000 while Laishram Sapna (Thoubal Centre AMMIK) and Sagolshem Jivan Singh of Imphal East was awarded the second and third prizes respectively for which they received Rs. 10,000 and 7,000 each. The best lyricist award goes to Kameshwar Sapam with Longjam Tombi Singh and Nongthombam Mangoljao secured second and third positions respectively.