The Dignitaries: The State’s Tourism Minister, Pu T.N. Haokip came early. At around 4:30 pm, the senior Hon’ble Minister was joined in the front rows of the dance-hall by a few colleagues like Mr. Thaisii, Hon’ble Minister, T.D & Hills, Mr. K. Ranjit singh, Hon’ble Minister, Works, Pu Thangminlen kipgen, Hon’ble Chairman, HAC, Manipur, Pu Thangkholun Haokip, Hon’ble MLA and other concerned high-ranking officials of the state. The VIPs exchanged pleasantries, made the front rows of the hall look manned and prestigious for a while. The audience were so engrossed in watching the ethnic entertainment items the fest delivered one after another in quick succession that no one noticed the dignitaries who entered and exited now and then.
The Men Behind: Infatuated to Tourism, of which he once was the Director, Mr H. Deleep Singh, DC/Chandel took stock of Chandel day Sangai Fest right from the day it was announced. If DC was in his elements in a particular official task, could the ADCs and SDOs be far behind? No. They had to work in tandem in what the boss desired to do. The subordinates of DC/Chandel were given responsibilities to engage cultural dance troupes in their respective administrative Blocks , saw that the groups rehearse well and arrange their transportation to Imphal and back. This author had to bring a bus-load of traditional dancers to shake a leg in the Tourism extravaganza from Moreh. Machi, Chandel, Tengnoupal and Chakpikarong were the other Blocks of the district. Staff of DRDA, Chandel, too fully b assisted in the management.
The Compeers: Frankie and Presica of Chandel DHQ were behind the mikes to announce the order of the mesmerising show. If the event stood out, it was partly due to the articulate compeering by the ace announcing duo from the Chakpi valley who took on the job they were assigned to like a duck takes to water. Miss Martha and Goldliver of the same DHQ helped in the event management knick-knacks. Thanks to the quality of mobilising the event-managers that came with an added zeal from the cheer-leader, that is DC/Chandel himself, there was no mismatch of role to player in the gala Chandel show.
The Performances: The performances were varied with each rivalling the other in presentation and ethnic speciality. As an impartial viewer, when I tried to rank the mind-boggling presentations on merit basis, it was as tough as to grade the equally attractive mansions built together in the same premises by the seven brothers of Chingmeirong (Imphal) of whom two are medical Doctors. The maddening rounds of applauses from the appreciative crowd gave reason for every Chandel-ian seated in the hall to feel proud of his hitherto untapped district. Judging the level of cultural consciousness and finesse displayed whole this evening by my fellow-Chandel-ians, makes me wonder as to why we are known as a backward district? Isn’t forwardness of a region determined by the quality of the culture?
The Performers: The choreography delivered with professional panache by Chandel youth left the viewers gasping in awe. The Zou item from Sugnu Zou Veng was exotic to view at while the Aimol and Chothe dances were simply awesome. Thadou-Kuki dances were usually not very lively; but this evening’s performances were exceptionally thrilling and entertaining. Lenchonghoi item showcased the maturity of Moreh youth in expressing their folklore in criss-crossing side-steps. And above all, the Theme song penned by this author, “Prosperity Through Co-Existence” and sung in the show with commendable vocal co-ordination by Nehminlen Lhouvum and Miss Tin tin Kipgen (T2K) was music to the ear. That the show went off well was proved by the DC/Chandel and SP/Chandel’s visible smile and endorsing whispers from ear to ear.
PROSPERITY THROUGH CO-EXISTENCE
(Theme Song for Chandel-Day: Sangai Fest-2010)
By: Lunminthang Haokip
ADC/Moreh
1.On terrains south of Taret river,
Across ranges north of Chin hill-shire;
Upon the lofty slopes that cover
Land from the plains to Myanmar border;
God placed people who are ethnic
To live unique in Chandel District.
The State calls to take part in giant strides,
Fate keeps us apart as defiant tribes;
Greed to seek for self will to chaos lead,
The great God gives us things we need;
Let’s all pray for and chant in good sense:
“Prosperity Through Co-Existence”.
2.To lift up our lot, schemes keep coming,
The gift is to see our stock booming;
We put in less and ask for more from
The PM, the CM and the DM;
Let “I will first bend” be the axis
To make amends, thrive and co-exist.
3.The diverse cultures are God-given,
Blessed nature makes us goods-laden;
Man’s nature craves to be self-driven,
We’ll gain stature in being goal-driven;
Let’s wake up to shake up our future
That our six Blocks may hit a Sixer.
