Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, November 20 2009:
Eleven-day long 2nd edition of the Manipur Food (Chinjak) Festival, organised by the Board of Manipur Chinjak Festival and Innovative Youth Development Association, has begun with traditional food flavour at GM Hall complex here today.
Attending the inaugural function of the festival as the chief guest, Tourism and IPR Minister, TN Haokip said, promotion of indigenous foods is one of the important factors for the promotion of tourism in the state.
He said, the taste and flavour of foods of the state will be a matter of discussion for tourists who visit the state.
The Tourism Minister said, in order to promote the indigenous foods, local brew liquor could not be left behind.
The choice to take the food item should be left to the conscience of an individual.
He said, no prohibition on food should be imposed.
Tourism in the state would gradually grow if hotels are developed in the state.
TN Haokip further said, cuisine of the state is one that remains embedded in the mind and that one longs for wherever one may go.
One cannot part with the taste .indigenous foods of the state like ngari, hawaijar, and utti thongba.
The occasion was graced by Deputy Secretary of Revenue department, Hareshwar Goswami and vice-president of MPYCC, Jotin Waikhom as the special guests.
Managing Director of Board of Manipur Chinjak Festival, Kh Athouba said, the festival aims to promote and preserved the indigenous foods of the state.
In order to further its aims, the Manipur Chinjak festival will be organised in Shillong next April/May.
Around 33 stalls, with various indigenous food items, have been opened.
Some of the indigenous foods like, Andro's pork, pork cooked with rice of Moirang, koujeng singju, makok-mana thongba, Churachandpur's changal pawk, tribal hot-dog, meat mixture, Chandel's sandang mathel, chahao, utong-chak, Bishnupur's laiwa kanghou, Khagempalli's soibum, Nambol's tharoi, etc have attracted large numbers of food lovers across the state.
New food items like okyom, ok athongba, etc have found a place in the festival this year.
The festival will conclude on November 30 .