Source: Hueiyen News Service / Manipur Information Centre
New Delhi, October 27 2008:
CONFLUENCE 2008: The North East Cultural Nite of JNU Students was held on Saturday at S K Open Air Theatre in JNU Campus, New Delhi.
The North East Students' Forum (NESF), JNU, New Delhi organized the colourful night which was attended by thousands of students from North Eastern States.
Dr.Thokchom Meinya, Member of Parliament, (Lok Sabha) as the chief guest inaugurated the event.
Wishing to the North Eastern Students of JNU, Dr..TMeinya expressed that the seven sisters North Eastern States of India and one brother State, Sikkim , have different cultures but we have unity in diversity.
The world has become a global village which means that the world has become one world irrespective of region, caste, culture and religion, he said.
In this one world, there are two distinct human beings i.e.men and women.
This two must respect to each other, he further added.
This year Manipur has been the honour to host the programme with Arunachal Pradesh as the co-host.
The convenor of the Forum Olivia Dirinamai from Manipur delivered that it is not just a cultural programme, but it is an endeavour to foster, broaden and deepen our relations with the nonNorth East brothers and sisters, and within and amongst ourselves.
The Cultural Night was attracted by different cultural programmes from the region with plenty of spectators, gathering around 1,500, ranging from Northeast India and rest of the country and also international students.
The Khamba-Thoibi dance from Manipur was the most applauding with big hands.
The other programmes include Khuallam dance of Mizoram, the Naga-caravan of Nagaland, Garo dance of Meghalaya, Bihu dance of Assam, Sirley Dance of Arunachal Pradesh, Mao Naga song and Zeliangrong Naga Tariang dance of Manipur were performed by north east students of JNU .
The ramp show, Orchids, the colours of north-east women was another fascinating event of the night.
The Couple Show, which was represented from the North Eastern States with their own traditional dresses, was another
attracting event of the night.
Last but not least, the night was concluded with a dinner party with varieties of delicious dishes from north east states.
The dishes from Manipur include Utti, Pakoura and Heithongba.
The festive night was also an attempt to negotiate and renegotiate the identity under the great Indian diversities.
The students of North East India had in 1987 formed the NorthEast Students' Forum in Jawaharlal Nehru University.
It is a socio-cultural based organization which aimed at focusing on the respective cultures of the Region through seminars and discussions, and its vibrancy through holding cultural programme every year.