1. PM addresses Manipur Sangai Festival via video message
Tags: Festivals State News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Manipur Sangai Festival via video message on 30 November.
Important facts
Every year the State of Manipur celebrates the “Manipur Sangai Festival” from 21st to 30th November.
It started in the year 2010 and over the years has grown into a great platform to showcase the rich tradition and culture of Manipur to the world.
The theme of the festival is “Festival of Oneness”. It promotes a sense of belonging and creates pride in ownership of land among people.
The festival showcases the glorious cultural heritage of the state and the love for art that is inherent in the various tribes living in the state of Manipur.
Manipur’s famous martial arts- Thang Ta (a combination Spear and Sword skills), Yubi-Lakpi (a game played with greased coconut like rugby), Mukna Kangjei (a game that combines hockey and wrestling), and Sagol Kangjei- Modern Polo (believed to have evolved in Manipur) were all form part of the festival.
Celebrated as the grandest festival in the state, the Manipur Sangai Festival helps in promoting Manipur as a world-class tourist destination.
The festival is named after the state animal, the Sangai, a deer found only in Manipur.
About Sangai Deer
It is an endemic and endangered subspecies of brow-antlered deer found only in Manipur, India.
It is found in its natural habitat only in Keibul Lamjao National Park, locally in the south eastern part of Loktak Lake.
It is the state animal of Manipur.
IUCN status : Endangered
2. Hornbill Festival begins at Naga Heritage village Kisama in Nagaland
Tags: Festivals State News
23rd edition of the Hornbill Festival of Nagaland started on December 1, 2022 at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama.
Important facts
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, the chief guest of the Hornbill festival, was present at the opening ceremony.
Nagaland Governor Professor Jagdish Mukhi was the chief host of the festival while Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio was its host.
The opening ceremony was followed by a cultural performance titled "This is Nagaland".
It may be noted that India is assuming the G20 chairmanship from 1 December, which coincides with Nagaland Statehood Day and the start of the Hornbill festival.
Organized by the Government of Nagaland, the Hornbill Festival showcases Nagaland’s deep-rooted traditions and its rich cultural heritage in all its ethnicity, diversity, and grandeur.
This festival will continue till 10 December. Jio is the official media partner of the festival.
About Hornbill Festival
Hornbill Festival is celebrated in Nagaland every year in the first week of December. It is also called “Festivals of Festivals”.
It is one of the biggest indigenous festivals of the country.
It is organised by the State Tourism and Art & Culture Departments, supported by the Union Government.
This Festival is held at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama which is about 12 km from Kohima.
The objective of the festival is to revive and protect the rich culture of Nagaland and to showcase its extraordinary traditions.
The festival is named after the bird 'Hornbill' which is the most revered and admired bird for the Nagas.
The festival is a tribute to this bird, known for its qualities of grandeur and alertness.
3. External Affairs Ministry to organize the International Lusophone Festival in Goa from 03-06 December 2022
Tags: Festivals place in news State News
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in partnership with Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the Government of Goa is organizing the International Lusophone Festival in Goa from 03-06 December 2022.
The International Lusophone Festival will be inaugurated on 03 December 2022 by Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa and Smt Meenakashi Lekhi, Minister of State for External Affairs and Minister of State for Culture would be the Guest of Honour.
What is Lusophone World?
The Lusophone world are countries that speak Portuguese as their official language and were colonized by Portugal. With 300 million speakers, Portuguese is the sixth most spoken language on the planet.
The Portuguese speaking countries set up the ‘Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP)’, in 1996.
The member countries of the CPLP are Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, Sao Tome and Principe, Timor Leste and Equatorial Guinea.
India joined CPLP as an associate observer in July 2021. As part of India’s engagement with CPLP, the Ministry of External Affairs celebrated the World Portuguese Language Day in Delhi on 05 May 2022, soon after joining CPLP.
Goa was also a colony of Portugal and it was liberated by the Indian government in 1961 through an action of the armed forces code named Operation Vijay.
4. First science documentary made in Sanskrit ‘Yanam’ screened at the 53rd IFFI
Tags: Festivals place in news
The first science-Sanskrit documentary in the history of world cinema, 'Yanam' that revolves around India's successful Mangalyaan mission, was screened under the Indian Panorama section at 53rd edition of International Film Festival of India (IFFI) at Panjim, Goa.
The 53rd IFFI being held in Panaji from 20-28 November 2022 was organised by National Film Development Corporation and Entertainment Society of Goa.
India's historic Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) alias 'Mangalyaan', was successfully launched by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in 2013.
It is based on the autobiographical book “My Odyssey: Memoirs of the Man behind the Mangalyaan Mission” by former ISRO chairman Padma Bhushan Dr K. Radhakrishnan.
The 45-minute documentary is a complete Sanskrit film by all means as the entire script and dialogues are in the ancient language. The film has been produced by AV Anoop under the banner AVA Productions with the complete support of ISRO. The film premiered on 21 August 2022 in Chennai.
5. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan attend Manipur's Sangai Festival as a chief guest
Tags: Festivals Person in news State News
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan attended Manipur's Sangai festival as a chief guest on 27 November 2022 under the 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' initiative of the Government of India. Manipur’s biggest festival Sangai is being held from 21 -30 November 2022.Under the 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' Manipur and Madhya Pradesh are partner states.
Artist of Madhya Pradesh will perform traditional dance form of Manipur’s like Mao tribe’s Naurata dance, Thai dance troupes etc. Before this, Imphal had participated in the Lokrang Mahotsav of Bhopal and now Bhopal is participating in Sangai Mahotsav of Imphal.
The theme of this festival is the 'Festival of Oneness.' Sangai is the state animal of Manipur, which is found only in Manipur.
Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat
The Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme was launched by the Prime Minister Modi on 31st October, 2015 on the occasion of the 140th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
- The Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme is a unique initiative by the Government to promote the spirit of national integration and to strengthen the fabric of emotional bonds between the people of our country.
- Every State and UT in the country would be paired with another State/UT for a time period, during which they would carry out a structured engagement with one another in the spheres of language, literature, cuisine, festivals, cultural events, tourism etc.
6. Lieutenant Governor inaugurates Annual Youth Festival ‘Sonzal-2022’at University of Kashmir in Srinagar
Tags: Festivals State News
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on 23 November inaugurated the Annual Youth Festival ‘Sonzal-2022’ at the University of Kashmir.
Important facts
The 'Sonzal' annual festival is a great opportunity for young artistes to showcase their talent and provide them the necessary platform to realise the dream of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat'.
Sonzal means rainbow, which is a symbol of hope, inspiration and good fortune.
He said that a rainbow comes for the students when they have the opportunity to discover their own hidden treasure for personal growth, independent thinking and contribution to nation building.
He said that educational institutions must discharge their responsibility to ensure freedom, creativity and engagement to the students to become "multi-achievers".
Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said that educational institutions should ensure that the new teaching framework and key concepts recommended by the National Education Policy are included in the curriculum.
The University of Kashmir has transformed into a center of excellence and has been promoting scientific research, new ideas and knowledge, and adapting to rapid changes in fundamental aspects of the educational landscape across the globe.
7. Pre-launch celebration of International Year of Millets held in New Delhi
Tags: Festivals National News
A pre-launch celebration of the International Year of Millets held on 24 November in New Delhi.
Important facts
The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) are hosting this special event.
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar attended the event.
During the event, both the ministers shared the government's vision for the successful conduct of the International Year of Millets 2023.
High Commissioners and Ambassadors of over 60 countries attended the pre-launch ceremony.
Its main objective is to spread awareness about Indian Millets and associate with other countries for the successful global celebration of the International Year of Millets in 2023.
Recently at the G20 summit in Bali, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the benefits of millet saying that millet can solve the problem of global malnutrition and hunger.
He also highlighted that India is promoting natural farming and re-popularizing nutritious and traditional food grains like millets for sustainable food security.
8. Karnataka's groundnut festival 'Kadalekai Parishe' begins after a gap of two years
Tags: Festivals State News
Karnataka's famous groundnut festival 'Kadalekai Parishe' begins on November 21, 2022, after a two-year Covid-19 hiatus.
Important facts
A special puja was performed at the Doddabasavanna temple, and Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai officially inaugurated the event.
Different varieties of groundnut supplied by farmers from all over Karnataka and neighboring states are the main attraction of the fair.
Bull Temple Road was lined with hundreds of vendors offering everything from flowers to jewellery, food and fruits, tattoos and artefacts, which drew crowds.
Kadalekai Parishe Festival
In the street opposite Basavanagudi is the famous Bull Temple, where the Kadalekai Parishe is held every year.
Groundnut farmers from Karnataka as well as neighbouring areas of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh bring bags of groundnuts to sell at the fair.
Many Bengaluru residents enter Kadalekai Palli to buy groundnuts and participate in cultural exchange.
The festival originated when a bull attacked the crops of groundnut farmers in Sankenahalli, Mavalli, Dasarahalli and Hosakerehalli (Karnataka villages), destroying the entire crop and causing them huge losses a few centuries ago.
Thereafter, King Kempegowda of Bangalore built a large temple at Basavanagudi to ward off the bull, and groundnut farmers made it a custom to pray at the temple with their first crop.
Every year, on the final Monday of the holy month of Karthika Masa, the Kadlekai Parishe is held.
9. Assam government to organise a 3 day Lachit divas in New Delhi
Tags: Festivals Person in news State News
The Assam government will organize Lachit Divas in New Delhi from 23-25th of November 2022. Lachit Divas is observed in Assam on 24th of November every year as a tribute to the Ahom General Lachit Borphukan who defeated a large Mughal Army on the banks of Brahmaputra in the Battle of Saraighat in 1671 to defend Guwahati. He was born on 24 November.
The 400th Birth Anniversary of great warrior of Ahom Dynasty Lachit Borphukan will be held with a grand programme with an exhibition on 600-year-old history of Ahom dynasty at Vigyan Bhawan.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will inaugurate the exhibition on November 23 with Union Home Minister Amit Shah gracing the occasion as chief guest on November 24.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the function of the 400th birth anniversary of Ahom General Lachit Borphukan in the national capital on November 25.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju will inaugurate a cultural program at Sunder Park on November 23.
In order to popularize Assamese culture the government of Assam has decided to organise Lachit divas in various parts of the country starting this year in New Delhi.
10. Biggest Manipur festival Sangai commences in the state
Tags: Festivals State News
Union Minister for Tourism G Kishan Reddy inaugurated the biggest tourism festival of Manipur -Sangai festival on 21 November 2022 at Moirang Khunou in Bishnupur district of Manipur.
The 11th Sangai festival will be held from 21 -30 November 2022. The festival which started in 2010 is being held after a 2 year gap due to covid. It is being held in 13 venues across six districts.
The festival is called Sangai festival to highlight the uniqueness of the shy and gentle deer popularly known as the Sangai in the region. It is a rare species of deer which is also the state animal of Manipur.
The theme of the Sangai festival 2022 is :‘ Festival of Oneness’.
The indigenous sagol kangjei, a sport that has now evolved into the modern game of polo, will also be featured during the festival in its very own birthplace. The Men’s International Polo Tournament will be held in Imphal and the CM’s Sagol Kangjei Tournament in Kangla as part of the festival.
Other major festivals of Manipur
Gang-Ngai
Celebrated for five days in the month of December/January, Gang-Ngai is an important festival of the Kabui Nagas.
Lui-Ngai-Ni
It is a collective festival of the Nagas observed on the 15th day of February every year. This is a seed sowing festival after which tribes belonging to the Naga group begin their cultivation.
Yaoshang
Celebrated for five days commencing from the full moon day of Phalguna (February/March), Yaoshang is the premier festival of Manipur. The Thabal Chongba – a kind of Manipuri fold dance, where boys and girls hold hands together and sing and dance in a circle, is particularly associated with this festival. Yaoshang to Manipur is what Durga Puja is to Bengal, Diwali in north India and Bihu to Assam.
Cheiraoba: The Manipuri New Year
It is celebrated during the month of April. Villagers climb the nearest hilltops in belief that it will enable them to rise to greater heights in their worldly life.
Kang: The Ratha Yatra of Manipur
One of the greatest festivals of the Hindus of Manipur, this festival is celebrated for ten days in the month of July. Lord Jagannath leaves his temple in a car known as “Kang” in Manipur pulled by devotees who vie with one another for this honour.
Heikru Hitongba
Celebrated in the month of September, Heikru Hitongba is a boat race. Long narrow boats are used to accommodate a large number of rowers. An idol of Lord Vishnu is installed before the commencement of the race.
Ningol Chak-kouba: A social festival of the Manipuris
It is a remarkable social festival of the Meiteis. Married daughters of the family come to their parental house along with their children and enjoy a sumptuous feast. It is celebrated on the second day of the new moon in the month of Hiyangei (November) as per Manipur Calendar system.
Kut: Festival of Kuki- Chin- Mizo
It is an autumn festival of the different tribes of Kuki-Chin-Mizo groups of Manipur. It is a happy occasion for the villagers whose food stock is bountiful after a year of hard labour. It is observed on the 1st November every year.
Chumpha: Festival of Tangkhul Nagas
Celebrated for seven days in the month of December, the Chumpha Festival is a great festival of the Rangkhul Nagas. The festival is held after harvest.
