Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman will formally open the Manipur Sangai Festival at Hapta Kangjeibung here on Wednesday.
“The defence minister will reach Imphal airport in a special flight around 3.30pm on Wednesday,” chief minister N. Biren Singh said on Tuesday during the inspection of Manipur Trade and Expo Centre, Lamboikhongnangkhong in Imphal West, one of the festival venues.
The 10-day festival, which gets under way on Wednesday, will be held for three days at Mao and for the remaining days at Imphal and Keibul Lamjao in Bishnupur district.
“This year’s Sangai festival is going to create history because it will be held in three venues in hill and valley for the first time,” the chief minister said.
Many foreign dignitaries are also attending the festival, he said, and added that around 100 delegates from Myanmar would reach Imphal on Wednesday night to witness the grand event.
The Sangai run would be conducted at all the three venues on Wednesday (festival launch day) at 7.30am simultaneously. Forest and environment minister Th. Shyamkumar will inaugurate the festival at Keibul Lamjao.
The chief minister appealed to the people to provide the best hospitality for tourists and delegates visiting the state during the festival and guide them with utmost decency. He also urged the public to extend cooperation to the government in keeping roads, public places and surroundings neat and clean. He also urged all concerned not to call any bandh or blockade during the festival.
Biren Singh also inspected beautification works and construction of stalls and the stage. He was accompanied by chief secretary J. Suresh Babu, secretary (tourism) Nidhi Kesarwani, director (commerce and industries) C. Arthur Worchuiyo and other senior officials.
Biren Singh had earlier said the US ambassador to India, princess of Thailand and chief ministers of Sagaing and Mandalay regions of Myanmar will attend the Sangai festival.
Besides local and domestic stalls, according to the chief minister, 140 stalls will be opened by international participants, including those from China, Korea, Thailand and Myanmar.
