The Kanglei Indigenous Martial Arts and Cultural Society (KIMACS) organised its 3rd State-Level Inter-School Manipuri Dance Competition at the Bhagyachandra Open Air Theatre, Palace Compound, Imphal, under the theme, “Leplashi Khongfam Chetna Khunai Ashigidamak: Let Us Stand Together for Society.”
The annual competition, which began in 2024, is part of KIMACS’s efforts to preserve and promote Manipur’s indigenous cultural heritage, particularly traditional Jagoi (Manipuri dance) and Thang-Ta.
Arts and Culture and Tourism Minister Khuraijam Loken, Wangkhei AC MLA Thangjam Arun Kumar, Joint Director of the Department of Art and Culture G. Dharmadas Sharma and KIMACS Vice-President Thangjam Suraj Meitei attended the inaugural function.
Students from various educational institutions took part in the competition.
Speaking at the function, Minister Khuraijam Loken called for concerted efforts to preserve and promote Manipur’s indigenous cultural heritage, which, he said, has given the State a distinct identity and projected its rich cultural traditions to the wider world.
He said Manipuris are known for their talent and stressed the need to pass traditional knowledge and cultural practices to younger generations so that the legacy of their ancestors can be understood, preserved and carried forward.
The Minister also called for collective efforts to protect and promote the State’s indigenous heritage, saying that unity and collective strength are essential for its preservation and further development.
KIMACS General Secretary R.K. Leninsana said the organisation launched the competition initiative in 2024 following a survey and awareness campaign among educational institutions to assess the status of traditional Jagoi and Thang-Ta.