Sangai Festival 2012

Manipur Sangai Festival 2012 () was a 10-day annual event organized by the State Tourism Department of Manipur. It began at Hapta Kangjeibung, Manipur, in 2012. The festival was held to promote tourism in the state.

Most Southeast Asian countries, such as Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Korea, and Singapore, as well as countries from Northeast Asia and other Indian states, take part in the festival.

Out of the total 796 stalls, 166 are food stalls.

 Inauguration 

The opening ceremony was attended by several important guests. Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam was the Chief Guest, and MLA M Prithviraj, Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Youth Affairs, and Sports, was the President of the function.

 Speeches and messages 

 Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam spoke about unity among different communities in Manipur. He said people should think of themselves as Manipuris first, before identifying with their individual communities. He explained that development is not possible if people focus on their differences. Instead, everyone should have the courage to live and work together for the good of Manipur. He also talked about the importance of protecting nature. He said the ecosystem and biodiversity should be preserved when developing tourism infrastructure.

 Moirangthem Okendro said that Manipur's natural beauty is greater than the artificial beauty of Switzerland. He spoke against the frequent use of bandhs (strikes) and blockades, saying these actions hurt the tourism industry. He called for change in this culture to help the state benefit from its tourism potential.

 Tharadol Thoingruang said that Manipur and Thailand share close ties in food, culture, and also geography. He said this relationship would grow stronger as connections between Myanmar and Manipur improve. He expressed hope that the Sangai Festival could be organized in partnership with other Southeast Asian countries, making it an internationally known event.

 MLA M Prithviraj, in his Presidential speech, announced that MC Mary Kom was selected as the Brand Ambassador of the Sangai Festival.

 International market 
Stalls from Thailand and Myanmar take part in the event, displaying food and handicraft products.

 Events 

The festival includes:

 Adventure tourism

 Eco-tourism

Cultural programs such as:

 Manipuri dance

 Tribal folk songs and dances

 Thang-ta (a martial art)

 Yubi Lakpi (a traditional game)

 Polo

These events are held daily at BOAT (Bhagyachandra Open Air Theatre).

Starting from this year, all activities of the festival were also broadcast live on the official website: .

The festival concluded with a cultural performance followed by a display of fireworks.

 Related pages 
 Meitei festivals

 References 

Category:Sangai Festival
Category:2012