Nagas in Manipur celebrated Lui-Ngai-Ni, the seed sowing festival on 15th February. The State level celebration function was held at Kapaam village in Chandel district under the aegis of the United Naga Council (UNC) with the theme “One culture, one destiny” Attending the celebration function as chief guest, Manipur Water Resources Minister, Awangbow Newmai stressed the need for preserving culture and tradition which he termed as the priceless gifts of forefathers.
“We need to preserve our culture. Not only songs and dances, we should also preserve habits and culture. Let us keep up all the good cultures and habits of our forefathers. It is the priceless gifts of our forefather,” he said. Asserting that Nagas are peace loving people, the Minister urged the people to show it through their deeds. “Let us spread the message of peace by way of respecting other communities” . Transport Minister Khashim Vashum, recalled the efforts to bring into shape the ‘Lui-Ngai-Ni’ as a common festival of Nagas living in the State of Manipur.
He himself was actively involved in shaping the festival around 30 years ago, added the Minister.The concept of the seed sowing festival was consolidated after a great deal of studies and consultations and christened as ‘Lui-Ngai-Ni’ in the year 1986 and its celebration took shape in 1987, he added.
Many sitting Naga MLAs, Outer Manipur Lok Sabha MP Dr Lorho S Pfoze, ex-Ministers, ex-Parliamentarians and ADC members also attended the occasion. In his presidential address, Ng Lorho president United Naga Council said that the celebration of the festival under the theme “One culture, one destination” is to show “oneness in diversity” Lorho observed that westernization has deeply inflicted on the culture of the Nagas, and added that the festival aims to imbibe the fundamental principle of social norms and value system.
“We aspire to have a Nation where law and justice is the rule of law and where the lowly are secured,” the UNC president added.The celebration of the festival is also a political message to a common destination and to rekindle the past glory, according to the UNC chief.
In today’s event, various activities like folk songs, cultural dances, blowing of Lui-Ngai-Ni trumpet, beating of drums and lighting of Lui-Ngai-Ni fire were performed by different Naga tribes.The blessings of seeds were invoked by the chief of Kapaam village. Transport Minister Khasim Vashum, Chandel AC MLA SS Olish, Tamenglong AC MLA Janghemlung Panmei, Ukhrul AC MLA Ram Muivah, Karong AC MLA J Kumo Sha and other public leaders including ex-MLAs and ex-ADC Members also attended the function.
Manipur finished 7th position at the just concluded Khello India Youth Games 2023. The game is participated by 36 states and union territories. Around 5000 atheletes participated in the tournament. Manipur scored 13 golds, 9 silver and 12 bronze to secure the seventh position. Madhya Pradesh who has the largest contingent scored the highest medals and secured the first position in the medal tally.
During the tournament, seven national youth records were created by a Manipuri weightlifter. M. Martina Devi who won the Girls 81kg+ category with a total lift of 199kg created national records in Snatch (88kg), as well as in Clean and Jerk (111kg). In fact, Martina broke a total of seven national youth records enroute to her gold medal. Manipur clinched the title by defeating West Bengal with a score of 1-0 in the girls’ football final.Athletes from Manipur dominated the Thang-ta, a traditional Manipuri martial art form, competitions at Mandla’s District Sports Complex, clinching five golds. Assam, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh also won a gold each in the sports discipline.
Earlier the sports ministry had opened Khelo India State Centre of Excellence (KISCE) at Khuman Lampak Sports Complex, Imphal with the aim to identify and provide world-class training to athletes in the state in their specialised sports. The Khuman Lampak Sports Complex in Imphal was chosen as the Khelo India State Centre of Excellence (KISCE) and was virtually inaugurated by Kiren Rijiju, the union minister of sports and youth affairs, in 2020. Three disciplines — archery, hockey and weightlifting — were selected to be part of the KISCE initially under which one state could have one discipline and weightlifting was declared as the state discipline of Manipur. Khelo India, the national programme for development of sports also established 16 sports centres across 16 districts in Manipur last year. The initiative was part of the Centre’s vision to open 1,000 new Khelo India Centres (KIC) in all states and Union territories, with at least one KIC in each district of the country. The sports ministry in partnership with the state governments is providing grassroots-level sports infrastructure to young sporting talent in different parts of the country under the Khelo India National development program for sports.
Manipur is considered as the power house of sports and the Central government has taken up steps to establish a sports university in the state which would be first of its kind in the country. The state which is geographically smaller compared to other states of the country with a population of around 30 lakhs has produced large number of sporting talents so far. The dedication, efforts and passion the people of Manipur have towards sports is often appreciated by many. Many state athletes are inducted in the central service and they are pursuing their career in bigger cities.
On a brighter note, at the grassroot level, culturally almost all local clubs in the State celebrates the holi festival (Yaoshang in Manipur) with 5 days of fun, literary and sporting events annually. Mostly the youths and elderly organise the sport events encouraging the children to participate. And the tournaments are concluded with award ceremonies. Often children participate the sporting event with much love, celebration and cherish memory besides winning accolades in winning prizes.
In the ancient time, it is believe that the Maram Tribes erect stone to show their wealth and might. When one stone is named after one man he has to offer the whole villagers a non-vegetarian meal. The custom of burying a piece of Iron at the base of the Monolith speaks of putting off the life spirit of the stones, as it is believed that every stone erection during a person’s life time is considered to be alive. In this regard the people of Willong speaks of the calling of Names among Monoliths at midnight such as Kanga, Hinga, Hiila, etc for the same reason only few dare to go to this site during night time.
The Katak Stones
“ Kanga, Khala, Thila are some of the female stone “ and Numdulung, Hiwa, Kaba, are some of the male stone at the Katak Site of Willong Village. To own a stone they split local wine at the foot of the erected stone and sleep with longings for owning a stone in the Katak stone site of Willong. If it appears that the stone belongs to him in his dream the dreamer owns the stone. Such is the ritual of owning a symbolic stone in Willong.
The Katak stone site in Willong stands tall to the natural site of a very greenish tree and red soil. The village is resided by Maram tribes and is 40 kilometre drive from the Maram main road (National Highway 39). In the old practice while erecting a ceremonial big stone they also keep a small stone adjacent to the big one as a tradition of accompanies. The stone symbolises strength and sportsmanship. As a good practice people use to put up weed on top of the erecting stone and try to take it down with their toes. Rock climbing competition in a run mount after a short pace and stone jumps from one roof of a 10 feet tall stone to another at a gap of 3 to 4 feet is another adventure they enjoy.
People of Willong still believe that the stone protects them. Perhaps drawn from the idea that the stony hills protect them from storms and natural disasters. They also have a fear psychosis that if they do not appease the stone the boulders might run after them. The stories associated with the Katak Stones also narrates a lot of cultural and traditional practices of the ancestors of Maram Tribes. Among the stones, there are also pairs whom the people of Maram believe that they were lovers but forbidden for certain reasons. If a child attends a height based on the marked parameter at the Katak stones he is considered to be matured. The cultural associations with the stones makes the Katak Stones unique. The centuries old historically associated stone of Katak lies naked to the Sun and is protected with barb wire fencing by the villagers. The public regarded it as a heritage site. Many people have paid visit to the Site for its uniqueness and historical importance to the people living around.
District Skill Committee, Kakching District organized a District Skill Mela, 2023 at JNURM Hall, Kakching Sumak Leikai under the aegis of Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India.
District Skill Mela 2023 held
The programme was attended by Shri LN. Kashung, IAS Mission Director, Manipur Society for Skil Development as Chief Guest, Shri Somorjit IAS Deputy Commissioner, Kakching as President and Shri Kh. Bobby Singh, Chief Operating Officer- Skills, State Skill Mission, Smt. Anuradha Oinam SRA/NRL, Shri Amarjit Rajkumar, Jt. Director Manipur Society for Skill Development as Guest o Honour respectively.
Speaking as Chief Guest of the function, Shri LN .Kashung stated that bringing awareness of skill development in our society is very much in need. Even the educated persons should keep themselves trained and fit. We must equip with skills that are required to meet the demands of our rapidly growing economy. We should be very clear to what is skill and for what it is.
In his presidential speech, Somorjit Salam Deputy Commissioner, Kakching said that in Manipur there are many educated unemployment. In future, educated would not survive without possessing unique skill. If unemployment figure kept on rising lots of crisis will follow. He further said that to generate employment, skill development with hard work and efficiency is a must in our society.
Adahrii Maheo, Additional District Magistrate, Kakching in his welcome and keynote address point out that the development of skills can contribute to structural transformation and economic growth by enhancing employability and labor productivity. Skill development has been considered as one of the critical aspects for job creation in our country. Everybody must try to get benefit and opportunity from the Skill Mela happening in the district.
Basically, the District Skill Mela was organized for generating awareness and selection/ enrolment of interested persons for skill development training in different sectors under the various skill development schemes of Central and State governments. The programme was designed to associate with different line departments of the district, Training Providers, employers across the state, banks etc. for overall sensitization of various aspects of Skill Development. Reputed training providers from across the State have participated in the event. The dignitaries of the function also inspected the stalls. A total of 22 stalls were opened in the Mela by various departments of the Government and entrepreneurs.
As part of the Mela, a Talk Show was moderated by Shri Anil Haorokcham, Managing Director, SYNAPX and participated by Shri A. Athias, LDM, Kakching. Shri Moirangthem Muktamani, Proprietor, Mukta Shoes & Padmashri Awardee. Smt. Hanjabam Subhra Devi, Proprietor, Meira Foods. Shri Pradeep Meitram, CEO/Co-Founder, Elle’s group and Dr. Pibarel Meetei, Founder/Managing Director, Medilane.
Experience the magic and wonder of the night sky with this enchanting poem. Get lost in the beauty of twinkling stars, shooting stars, and distant suns. Immerse yourself in a world of endless possibilities with the Twinkling Wonders poem.
Making money online without any initial investment can be a difficult task, but with dedication and hard work, it’s definitely possible. Here are a few more ideas to help you get started:
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Innovation has been the driving force behind many of the biggest advances in human history. It has allowed us to make quantum leaps in fields ranging from medicine and technology to design and business. There are many different types of innovation, each of which can be applied in its own unique way to create new products, processes, and services that change the world.
Disruptive innovation: This type of innovation is all about shaking up established industries and changing the game for everyone. It often involves creating new products or services that are cheaper, faster, and easier to use than what’s currently available, making them accessible to a much wider audience.
Sustaining innovation: Unlike disruptive innovation, sustaining innovation focuses on making incremental improvements to existing products, services, or processes. This type of innovation helps companies stay ahead of their competitors by staying ahead of the curve when it comes to performance, reliability, and customer satisfaction.
Radical innovation: Radical innovation is all about creating entirely new products, services, or processes that have never been seen before. It’s about taking a big risk to create something truly revolutionary, with the potential to completely change an industry or even the world.
Incremental innovation: Incremental innovation is all about making small improvements to existing products, services, or processes. This type of innovation is often driven by a company’s desire to increase efficiency, reduce costs, or improve customer experience, and it can help companies stay ahead of their competitors by keeping up with the latest advancements in their respective fields.
Business model innovation: This type of innovation is all about creating new and improved business models that can help companies remain competitive and profitable. It involves rethinking how a company operates, including how it generates revenue, manages its supply chain, and interacts with its customers.
Social innovation: Social innovation focuses on using technology and other resources to address some of the world’s biggest social challenges, such as poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation. This type of innovation is often driven by a desire to create positive change, and it often involves collaboration between individuals, organizations, and governments.
Technological innovation: Technological innovation is all about creating new and improved technologies that can change the world. It’s driven by a desire to solve problems, create new opportunities, and improve the lives of people all around the world.
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In conclusion, innovation is a driving force behind many of the biggest advances in human history, and it comes in many different forms. Whether you’re looking to disrupt an industry, improve existing products and services, or create something entirely new, there’s a type of innovation that can help you achieve your goals. To be truly innovative, you need to have a deep understanding of your industry,
2010 Since then, the band has managed to carve a niche for itself through easy and smooth execution of the blues known as the ‘mother of rock and roll’.
Fringes the rock blues band
Despite rare public appearances, the band has been consistent in their approach to blues music. Since, the band released its debut album “Trapped” in 2012, it has been performing whenever all the members get a chance to assemble their craft and skills to showcase the core of blues.
Their lyrical content truly represents the turmoil of the youth in today’s Manipur. No wonder then, they sing about unemployment, poverty, violence in the State.
The band comprised of members who are old school friends and they have been jamming for quite many years now despite pursuing different professions and separated by physical distance.
For instance, the band’s vocalist Haraba Ningthoukhongjam is a doctor by profession while Thingnam Sanjeev is a historian and a qualified archivist working in New Delhi.
The rest of the band members comprised of Shanker Sapam, the bassist who is a full-time sessions musician of repute who also is well acquainted with technical aspects of the craft.
Fringes the rock blues band
Set for a larger audience in home ground, the band had performed at Yaosang Rock during April 2012 at the Yaiskul Range along with popular Delhi based band Parikrama and at Florozone Nongin Music Fest 2013′, besides mega fest like Manipur Sangai Festival.
Gautam Sorokhaibam, who is an IT professional, does the wonders in rhythm. Another seasoned musician and a sound engineer Sunil Loitongbam plays the drums for the band.
The band had represented the State in the Concert of Rock Music Band Bonding hosted by the North Eastern service of All India Radio, and also recorded at DDK Guwahati. The members had performed at Shillong blues and Jazz festival, besides Fringes tour de Delhi, where the band performed at various cafes and popular music stores.
The band was also invited to perform at the North East Business Summit Party at Le’ Meridien Hotel New Delhi in recent past.
Fringes gained popularity as the band has been rooted in rock blues genre.
Manipur is a hotspot in terms of fish production. The famous fresh water lake Loktak supplies most of the fishes for the State and it is also being exported to neighbouring States. Manipuri’s eat lots of fishes and most of the boiled vegetable curries are incomplete without fermented and dry fish. On a single day a family consumes minimum of 50 grams dry fish as side dish or part of a curry. Ima Market and most of the markets in the valley districts sales fresh fishes. Fish curry remains the favorite curry. Several types of local fishes are also eaten for good health at the time of recovering from illness. The State also imports sea fishes from other States of India. Besides several types of fishes also comes from the neighboring country Myanmar.
Let’s us take a look at two of the fish festivals the State Government organizes for two major festivals where fishes are offered to local deity and fishes are served as main course in a cultural feast in every home.
Emoinu Fish Festival 2023
The first Emoinu Fish Festival, 2023 organized by the Department of Fishery at Hapta Kangjeibung on the day of Emoinu Festival registered sale of 51,362 Kgs of different species of fish including 2600 kgs of home grown Meitei Sareng. Fish farmers of Bishnupur district contributed the highest production with 17,709 Kgs followed by Imphal West district with 14,218 Kgs and Thoubal district with 9009 Kgs.
A significant outcome of Emoinu Fish Festival, 2023 is that the total proceeds accrued from the sale of fish accounted for Rs 1.30 crore which is a spectacular achievement for the fish farmers and Fishery Department.
Emoinu Fish Festival witnessed departmental stalls of Agriculture, Horticulture, MOMA, Forest and various start-ups catering to agro and allied products like organic black rice, ginger, turmeric, fresh seasonal vegetables, value added local fruits, beverages, etc which provided a shopping spree and extravaganza to the visitors.
Ningol Chakouba Fish Festival 2022
Around 200 fish farmers from 16 different districts participated in the fish fair. Manipur government arranged 155 stalls for the participants free of cost and the travel allowance for fish farmers were reimbursed. Apart from common fish varieties easily available in the market, indigenous fishes like Pengba/Khabak; Ngaton; Ngahei; Ukabi (Anabus); Porom (Murrel) and Tunghanbi (Tilapia) were on sale during the fish fair.
Speaking at the festival, the fishery minister Dingo opined that fish production has increased considerably when compared to previous years. The department has managed to produce 1.25 lakh kg this year against the previous year’s requirement of 90,000 kgs. The minister also stated that with the increasing number of fish farmers and the adoption of new technologies, the state can become self-sufficient in fish farming by 2005 Director of, department of fisheries, Heisnam Balkrishna Singh said the department fixed reasonable fish prices especially for the fish fair.
For promotion of good yield and to encourage fish production in the State competition are held annually and the first prize winner, second and third prize winners were awarded a cash prize of Rs 1 Lakh, Rs 70,000 and Rs 50,000 respectively.
The highest producer of indigenous fish was awarded a cash prize of Rs 20,000 and 20 consolation prizes worth Rs 10,000 were also given to the fisherman.
Manipur is primarily an agriculture-based economy. Besides rich vegetables varieties found in the State horticulture products like Pienapple, Orange, Lemon and Banana etc are widely cultivated. The general public during the harvest season celebrates certain festivals, which is being taken up as State festival by the government of Manipur. Among the horticulture-based festivals, Kachai Lemon Festival, Orange festival, Pineapple festival are the most prominent festivals. Let us take a look into the latest editions of the fruit festivals.
Orange Festival is celebrated every year in Tamenglong District in the first or second week of December every by the general public of Manipur. The festival has been organized and started since 2001. It was later declared in 2004 as State Level Orange Festival by Manipur Government. The main objective of the festival is to promote the objectives and interests of the orange growers in the district which is the only suitable location to grow in large scale in Manipur.
At the orange festival 2022 edition, altogether 270 orange growers participated in the event. Each participants had to bring a minimum of 1,000 oranges to participate in the grand event. To promote orange grower a competition among orange growers takes place every year. For the year 2022, Gainiliu of Sibilong village under Tousem sub-division was adjudged as the first prize winner in the Orange Festival competition with a cash award of Rs 2 lakh while Tanimliu Kamei of Sibilong village, Tousem sub-division and Gaikhammei of Changdai village, Tamenglong, were adjusted the second and the third berth with a cash award of Rs 1 lakh and Rs 75,000, respectively. In connection with the festival, the State government inaugurated a cold storage to help farmers in storing their products. Mention may also be made that beauty pageant are also being held annually as a part of the festival.
Kachai Lemon Festival, 2022
Kachai Lemon Festival, 2022
The 18th edition of the two days Kachai Lemon Festival took place at the Local Ground of Kachai Village in Ukhrul district.Kachai Lemon of Manipur has been accorded Geographical Indication (GI) registration tag and widely grown in the Kachai Village of Ukhrul district. Unlike the other lemon varieties grown in other parts of the world, Kachai Lemon is considered to be unique in nutritional value.
The Kachai Lemon Festival is organised annually to promote the lemon fruit and lemon farmers. This year, altogether 260 stalls are put up at the festival. While inaugurating the festival, Additional Chief Secretary of Manipur P. Vaiphei stated that the Kachai Lemon product has the potential to lift the socio-economic condition of Kachai Village to a great extent.
This year the festival is being organised under the theme ‘Organic Kachai Lemon for Safe Environment and Rural Transformation’. A training program for lemon farmers was also conducted as part of the festival.
