Sangai Festival 2015

The **Sangai Festival 2015 of Manipur** () was an annual cultural event held to showcase the rich traditions, culture, and natural beauty of the state. The festival was organized by the Manipur Tourism Department to promote tourism in the region.

## Inauguration 
The 2015 festival began on a Saturday with a grand opening ceremony. It was attended by important guests from the state, the nation, and abroad, along with many local visitors. The event was officially inaugurated by the Governor of Manipur, V Shanmuganathan, who was the chief guest.

Traditional huts, the Imphal War Museum, and sand art were the most visited attractions by visitors.

Traditional houses of various communities such as Meitei (Yumjao), Maring (Chim), Thadou (In), Zeme (Chaki), Mao (Ochi), Liangmei (Chaki), Tangkhul (Sim), Poumai (Chi), Gangte (In), Paite (In), Rongmei (Tarangkai), Chiru (In), Kom (In), and others were displayed at the festival venue along with important household items. These houses, decorated with traditional clothes, tools, and utensils, helped visitors learn more about each community.

At the Manipur Sangai Festival 2015, Angom Ongbi Kamala Devi and her sister Oinam Chandani Devi displayed traditional Kouna crafts at stall no. 59. Kamala, a state award-winning craftsperson, showcased items like mats, bags, baskets, and a decorative Sangai deer made from Kouna. This craft, popular in Manipur due to abundant raw materials and demand from India and abroad, helped Kamala provide jobs to local people. She said the festival was a great chance to promote Manipur’s unique Kouna craft and attract buyers.

## International tourists 
According to government records, a total of 184 foreign tourists visited Imphal to attend the Sangai Festival, while around 307 foreign tourists came to the state for personal purposes.
Around 72 tourists from Myanmar visited Imphal. Other visitors included 41 from Thailand, 22 from Bangladesh, 16 from Japan, 7 each from the UK and Australia, 6 from the USA, 4 from China, 2 from Bhutan, and 1 each from Norway, France, Denmark, Indonesia, Lesotho, and Nigeria.

## Cleanliness drive 
Manipur Chief Secretary O Nabakishor launched a week-long cleanliness drive in Imphal from November 9 to 16, 2015, under the theme “Clean Manipur, Green Manipur,” as part of the Manipur Sangai Festival. The drive, organized by the Tourism Department and Imphal Municipal Council, began at Keishampat Junction. Nabakishor urged people to stop littering and highlighted the need to keep Imphal clean to boost tourism and improve the state's image.

## Transportation 
On November 15, a trial run of JnNURM low floor buses was held in Imphal to serve Sangai Festival visitors. Eleven buses ran on Routes 3 and 6 with a Rs 10 fare. The service operated on a no-profit basis and covered Greater Imphal. The state planned to use the buses for schools and government offices after the festival, with public service expected to resume later.

Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh flagged off the first Sangai Festival 2015 tour bus from Imphal to Sendra, welcoming international tourists including a Myanmar MP. The event was organized by the Manipur Tourism Department and attended by senior officials.

## Notable attendees 
The festival was also attended by the Norwegian Ambassador to India, Nils Ragnar Kamsvag, Lady Anne Josephine Kamsvag, and Johan Laav, the Second Secretary for Political Affairs at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi.

## Related pages 
* Meitei festivals

## References