File picture of girls in traditional attire during the Hornbill festival

Imphal, Nov. 14: Manipur will get its own taste of Hornbill Festival this January when it organises a vibrant youth festival in Senapati to brush away its image of a state in turmoil.

With love, peace, unity and fraternity as its themes, the two-day festival, starting January 18, will be organised by the Senapati-based Youth Initiative Foundation, a philanthropist organisation.

The event hopes to bring together youths of the Northeast, including Sikkim, give them a chance to explore their talent and foster brotherhood and unity.

The organisers admitted that the Hornbill festival of neighbouring Nagaland, an annual event that attracts many tourists, inspired the festival.

The programme, being held for the first time in the Northeast, will include a beauty contest named Queen of the Mystic East and dance competitions.

There will also performances by rock bands of the region as well.

The winners of the beauty contest will get cash prizes — Rs 1,20,000 for the winner and Rs 80,000 and Rs 50,000 respectively for the first and second runners up.

The first prize for the dance competition will be Rs 1,00,000 and there will be consolation prizes of Rs 10,000.

There are no cash prizes for the rock bands, but the organisers said their expenditure for participation would be reimbursed.

Another highlight of the programme would be a food fest.

“Manipur is known as the land of fear, turmoil and insecurity. We want to show to the world that we can still celebrate life and give youths of the region a chance to explore their talents,” Dominic Chawang, convenor of the foundation, said.

He said invitations for participation had been extended to all the northeastern states and would be sent to Sikkim as well, adding that some states had responded positively.

The organisation will provide free food and lodging to the participants. “They, however, will have to bear their personal travel expenses,” Chawang said.

“The event will be organised on the theme of Peace through Culture and Identity. It will be an attempt to showcase the unity of the region in the midst of diversity and will, therefore, put forth, both a proposal and an agenda, for peace among all people,” he said.

The Youth Initiative Foundation, formed by peace loving youths of Senapati district, is supported by almost everyone in the region.

The organisers also plan to highlight the issue of global warming during the two-day cultural extravaganza.

“The event is only the beginning. We will be involved in many such activities in future, including creating awareness about AIDS and HIV and other social issues,” Chawang said.

The organisation has contacted financial institutions and some private companies for funds.

“Participants and visitors will not have to worry about accommodation and security. We have arranged everything,” Chawang said.