Union minister to open biggest toursim festival in Manipur

Imphal, Nov 21: Union ministe of state for pariamentary affairs Pawan Singh Ghatowar will open the 10-day long 'Sangai Festival' at

capital complex here this afternoon amid tight security deployment, official sources said.

Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh would preside over the function which will be attended by Chief Ministers of Mandalay and Sagang regions of Myanmar, U Ye Myint and U Thar Aye respectively, sources said.

They said union ministers, representatives of various NGOs from different parts of the country and foreign delegates would participate in the festival. The two chief ministers from the Mandalay and Sagang along with about 180 delegates would arrive here by 'Golden Myanma Airlines' from Mandalay and it would be the first time that a foreign airlines would land at Imphal airport since it turned into an international airport by a union cabinet decision about two weeks ago, sources said.

Following the request from the state government to the union aviation ministry, no landing and other required fees would be imposed on the 'Golden Myanmar Airlines' plane. The main attractions of the festival would be the performances of various cultrual events, cultural troupe from Thailand and Myanmar, serving of indigenous cuisines of Manipur, indigenous sports of the state and 7th Manipur Polo International 2013. In view of the recent stepped activities of different militant outfits, the state government has taken up intensified security measures all over the state capital complex.

PTI