Sangai Vs Hornbill
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: December 04, 2013 -

The dancing deer Sangai is the pride of Manipur, while Nagaland idolizes the colourful Hornbill bird.

These two neighbouring States are in a tough race to become the 'tourist hotspot' of Northeast India.

Taking the names of the significant bird and animal, Manipur and Nagaland celebrate the Sangai Festival and Hornbill Festival respectively every year roughly at the same season and also for the same budget (nearly Rs. 2.5 crores).

The Sangai Festival kicked off from November 21 and lasted for 10 days till November 30.

The DoNER Minister and Chief Ministers of Mandalay and Sagaing Regions of Myanmar made glittering appearances at the inaugural ceremony of the Sangai Festival.

There were also foreign delegates from Myanmar, Thailand and China besides polo players from the United States, Germany and Thailand for participating at the 7th Manipur Polo International, a component event of the Sangai Festival.

The festival was organized by Manipur Tourism Department with the objective of developing tourism industry through Manipur's rich art and culture, flora, fauna and other natural beauties.

On the other hand, Nagaland began the Hornbill Festival from December 1 just after the conclusion of Sangai Festival on November 30.

President of India Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the festival in a graceful manner.

The Hornbill Festival is jointly organized by Tourism Department and Art & Culture Department of Nagaland to encourage inter-tribal interaction and promote rich cultural heritage of the Naga. It is also being held for 10 days from December 1 to 10.

From the economic perspective, tourism can be a thriving industry in both Manipur and Nagaland, which are predominantly non-industrialized.

Manipur Government really tried hard to give an international look to the Sangai Festival.

Tulihal International Airport was inaugurated with the landing of Golden Myanmar Airline in connection with the Sangai Festival.

However, the festival failed to attract people from beyond Imphal.

Apart from the foreign delegates who were invited by the Government, not many tourists even from outside the State turned up at the festival.

The seemingly glittering festival simply looked like a local fair where people buy and sell goods.

Cultural and adventure events of Sangai Festival were not up to the mark.

The festival venue at Hapta Kangjeibung was jam-packed with visitors, but there was hardly any tourist from outside.

The Sangai Festival largely failed as a tourism festival, though it succeeded in strengthening diplomatic ties with the neighbouring country.

Manipur's tourism festival needs to have a distinct identity which could help in attracting tourists from other states and abroad.

On the contrary, the Hornbill Festival, as a festival of rich cultural heritage of the Nagas, has been able to draw many tourists from far and wide.

All hotels and lodges in Kohima and other towns of Nagaland are reportedly occupied fully by tourists who are coming to witness the festival.

The Hornbill Festival has always been in the limelight of national and international media. The festival has earned a distinction among many other tourism festivals of India.

The true display of Naga cultural heritage to the world may be the USP for this festival.

No doubt, the Hornbill Festival is the most popular tourism festival in Northeast India.

To cut a long story short, Manipur officials simply need to do more strategic planning before they can send out their Sangai to compete with the Nagaland's Hornbill.