Imphal, Dec. 15: A 10-day food festival in Imphal has put up some of the most delicious indigenous cuisines of Manipur, ready to tickle the taste buds of visitors.

The sixth edition of Chinjak (food) festival organised by Imphal-based Innovative Youth Society, an NGO, opened on Sunday at Hafta Kangjeibung here. It has around 35 stalls presenting about 70 traditional food items belonging to various communities of the state.

The festival also provides an opportunity to many local roadside indigenous food sellers coming from far off-places to popularise their specialties to food lovers.

"Our objective to organise the festival is to promote and preserve indigenous food items and also encourage production of more healthy and typical Manipuri foods," the deputy managing director of the society, Kangambam Mahesh, said.

Every year, the festival is organised with a different theme, this year's theme being "Merry Christmas". "The theme was chosen by the organisers considering the Christmas season and also to strengthen the bond of brotherhood between different communities residing in Manipur, Mahesh said.

The turnout in the festival has been moderate, but the organisers and stall owners are expecting a better footfall in the coming days.

"Though the festival began on Sunday with the inaugural function, it got going only yesterday. I sold food items worth Rs 7,000 yesterday. I am expecting better business today," Kh. Premlata Devi, a stall owner from Sekmai of Imphal West said.

The most sought-after item in her stall is boiled pork with mustard leaves, ginger and onion.

Another favourite item is gulab jamun made from chakhao (an indigenous variety of black rice) and phola - an indigenous food item of the Meiteis made from a rice, banana, milk and sugar.

A stall from Jiribam of Imphal East presented an indigenous species of chilly flavoured with ghee. Paknam (a steamed food item) and singju (indigenous salad) also attracted visitors.

"I love singju and paknam. I also tasted the boiled pork with mustard leaves, which is delicious," said Maibam Rishi, 32, who had come with his girlfriend.

Another stall, owned by Association, Action and Public Development Society from Mao Gate of Senapati district, attracted visitors with various processed foods, including beer made from fruits and varieties of fruit juices which are processed indigenously. Fresh vegetables are also being sold at this counter.

"I run an eatery at Singjamei in Imphal West. This festival has provided me with the opportunity to popularise my indigenous cuisines, though the business so far has not been much not that good," Khoiraom Nanobi Singh said.