Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, January 05 2010:
A three day long folk dance festival showcasing folk dances of various communities and tribes of the state kicked off today at LYDU hall at Lairenkabi.
The festival is being organised by the Lairenkabi Youth Dramatic Union (LYDU) under the sponsorship of the Indian Council for Cultural Relation (ACCR).
Dr K Sobita, director of state arts and culture department who graced the opening function as chief guest opened by lighting the light.Curator of Manipur state museum, Dr L Dhanapati and regional officer of ICCR Proshanta Benerjee were the president and guest of honour respectively of the function.
The chief guest also released a souvenir of the function.
Delivering her speech as chief guest, Dr Sobita lauded the initiative of the LYDU for organising the festival at a venue located in the outskirts of Imphal observing that holding such festival in the heart of the city is not a healthy trend.
It is imperative for all to work for preservation of traditional cultures of the all communities and tribes.
otherwise future generation will blame us, she added.
"We must laud artistes participating in the festival," she said wishing them grand success.
Proshanta Benerjee speaking as guest of honour also lauded the role of the LYDU in preserving and upliftment the culture of the people of state.
Manipur is very developed state in the fields of sports and culture and ICCR will continue to extend assistance for the preservation and upliftment of culture in the state, he assured.
The three day long festival will continue till January 7, a total of 10 cultural dance troupes are participating.