Exhibition of traditional high jump over live mithun during the Kut Festival 2018 at Kangpokpi Thomas Ground on November 1.
Newmai News Network
Imphal | November 1
Manipur Chief Minister, N Biren Singh exhorted the people of Manipur to stand together "for a united Manipur and a united India" and put in collective efforts to uplift the weaker section of the society.
The Chief Minister was speaking as the chief guest at the State Level Kut celebration, the biggest post-harvest festival of Kuki-Chin-Mizo group, organised at Thomas Ground in Kangpokpi today.
"No matter Manipur is a small State, it has around 36 different communities residing together since time immemorial", the Chief Minister said. He added that people need to forget the past and give up the idea of taking reprisal against any community for any past mistake or discord.
Maintaining that suppressing smaller and weaker groups by bigger and stronger communities is now passé, Singh said that every community should be allowed to live with dignity and protect their identity. N. Biren Singh also said that his Government believes in honouring human value and working in the service of humanity.
He then opined that like this year, the State level Kut celebration should be organised in other district headquarters as well so that interaction with the people residing at interior and far-flung areas may increase.
Speaking as the functional president, Social Welfare minister, Nemcha Kipgen said that Kut has now become an extended common festival embraced by all people irrespective of caste, creed and colours.
Earlier, N Biren Singh declared the Kut Festival 2018 open and released the Kut Souvenir. He also pounded the traditional gong to mark the festival open. Cultural presentations from different tribes and special numbers of different artistes, and exhibition of traditional high jump over live mithun were the special attractions of today’s celebration.
CAF and PD Minister Karam Shyam, Manipur Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker K. Robindro, Hill Areas Committee Chairman T.T. Haokip, Planning and Development Authority Chairman T. Robindro, Manipur Tribal Development Corporation Chairman Vungzagin Valte, Manipur Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board Chairman Heikham Dingo, MP (Lok Sabha) Thangso Baite, MLAs D.D. Thaisii, T.N. Haokip, Th. Satyabrata, N. Indrajit, Khashim Vashum and Chaltolein Amo, DGP L.M. Khaute, Sadar Hills ADC Chairman and Members, Kangpokpi DC Rangitabali Waikhom and Kangpokpi SP Hemant Pandey also attended the celebration.
