Sangai Festival is an annual cultural extravaganza in Manipur. Every year the Government of Manipur, headed by the Tourism Department, celebrates the Sangai Festival. This 10-day long festival lasts from 21st to 30th of November. The cultural celebrations showcase the uniqueness of the North-Eastern State. Homage is paid to the shy and gentle Brow-Antlered Deer, popularly known as the Sangai Deer, which is found only in the state’s floating Keibul Lamjao National Park in Loktak Lake. The tourism festival promotes Manipur as a world-class destination. Tourists from every corner of the world visit Manipur to attend this festival and learn more about the fascinating culture. Sangai Festival in Manipur is an excellent opportunity to learn more about preserved culture and tradition of Northeast India.
History
Celebrated over the past few years with the name Tourism Festival, since 2010, the Manipur Tourism Festival has been renamed as the Sangai Festival. The beautiful North Eastern State is celebrated during the festival. Celebrate the geography, history, wildlife, heritage, and culture.
Celebrations
The Sangai Festival focuses on showcasing the tourism potential of Manipur. In addition, this festival strives to promote the best of what the state has to offer to the world. Witness the best of art and culture, handlooms, handicrafts, ethnic sports, cuisines, music, adventure sports, and the scenic natural beauty of the land. Having assumed great importance in recent years, the 2016 edition essential celebrates the ethnic diversity of the society.
The festival format is such that events take place all over Manipur. During the day, there are outdoor events. Post 4.30 PM, cultural events are in Imphal at BOAT, a mini-stadium. The festival destination is also crowded with stalls serving Manipuri delicacies. In addition, there are many options to check out Manipuri handicrafts/artificial jewelry from Thailand.
The events held in Imphal include polo matches. Witness both the traditional polo, which originated here, and contemporary sport. The classic boat race, Hiyang-HirenTanaba, is a power-packed event. The dance forms of Manipur deserve special mention. Ras-Leela dance, Pung Cholom, and the ethnic Manipuri dance form create magic for visitors with elegant steps and poignant music. The fusion music performances during the Festival are lovely. Do not miss Nata Sankirtana, cultural performances by people of hilly districts. Power paragliding at Old Airfield and the ethnic games of the state are also organized in the capital city. The Festival also hosts performances by artists from the states of Tripura, Orissa, and international locales of Thailand and Myanmar.
Events outside Imphal include trekking and climbing to the state’s highest peak, Mount Iso. Many water adventures include water skiing, sailboat, and windsurfing at Loktak Lake Moirang. A 60-km mountain bike cross country competition. Caving and trekking to Ukhrul district.
Further, many entertaining items like Fashion Shows, Rock Shows, etc. Hence, the Festival is the right venue to indulge in the Manipuri pleasures.
How to Reach
By Air
Manipur is easily accessible by air. The airport is 6 km away from Imphal. There are few flights from Delhi to Imphal. Tourist Buses, taxis and local buses will take you to Imphal city from the airport.
By Rail
There are no railway lines in the state of Manipur. The nearest railhead is Dimapur (Nagaland), 215 km from Imphal. From the railhead, buses, taxis and rented cars with chauffer bring you to Imphal city.
By Road
Manipur is easily accessible by road. You can drive into Imphal from the neighboring states of Nagaland, Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh. The ideal car to hire is a 4-wheeler SUV that comes with a chauffer.
You can attend the Sangai Festival in Manipur to learn about art, culture, and history. You can also explore tourist attractions that will take you on an incredible journey on your Manipur tour. So, plan your holiday in this beautiful northeast state of the country through our well-curated Manipur tour packages.
