Imphal, February 13: People from various walks of life have started converging at Senapati district to witness the cultural extravaganza filled Lui-Ngai-Ni celebration of 2005.Reports received by Newmai News Network said that tourists from various parts of India have booked in at Senapati to witness the festival.

On the eve of the celebration i.e.Feb-14, there will be colourful entertainment programme presented by well known Naga artistes.

The likes of Naga Bob Dylan (Reuben Mashang-a), heart throb Alvina Gonson, miss Pritoi and Jiangngam Kamei will enthrall the coming delegates and the Lui-Ngai-Ni crowd in the evening of the arrival day.

Before the entertainment programmes, there will be short formal introductory session followed by special numbers from the Lui-Ngai-Ni choirs.

Beautiful, elegant and young Naga girls which include famous comperes miss Sh Rosilla Monsang, miss Thingreichon Hongray Tangkhul, Miss Gabriela Gonmei (Zeliangrong) and miss Dr Regina Poumai will display the running, tongue twisting commentaries from the announcing booth in English.

This is not everything.

The following day, i.e Feb-15, the main function will start from 10 am.

Speech from the chief guest, governor SS Sidhu and series of cultural programmes will follow.

From 6 pm the Lui-Ngai-Ni queen contest will begin.

Lui-Ngai-Ni is a seed sowing festival during which the Nagas pray to God for a bumper harvest.

It is celebrated every year in the beginning of the spring season.

Since 1987, the Nagas have been officially celebrating the festival every Feb-15.The govt of Manipur hence recognised the festival and declared it a state holiday.

The Union Ministry of Tourism has listed Lui-Ngai-Ni as one of the "Tourist Festivals of India." Every year the venue for celebrating Lui-Ngai-Ni changes.

Senapati Hqs has been chosen as this year�s celebration venue.

The district has huge tourist potential.

The district was formerly known as Manipur North District which came into existence on November-14, 1969 with its headquarters at Karong but later it was shifted to the present Senapati on December 13, 1976.It was then formally called Senapati district on July-15 1983.Potato production, plums and passion fruits are the main cash crops of Senapati.

Stone monoliths, water pools, are found at Liyai village of the district.

The Barak River originates from this district and flows into the mighty Brahmaputra in Assam-Bangladesh border.

A village called Makhel in the district is a sacred site for many ethnic tribes living in Senapati district.

Yangkhullen is a very interesting place in Senapati district dominated by Zemei tribe of the Zeliangrongs.

One can see many primitive things in this village as the people there still practice the primitive life-styles.

The famous Dzukou Valley falls in this district.

Purul is a place of traditional style of wrestling.

People are very much practising the game.

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