TMB Correspondent
KANGPOKPI: The Thadou Inpi – General Headquarters termed the celebration of the 5th state-level Hun Festival 2023, the biggest cultural festival of the Thadou people at Kangpokpi District Headquarters “exceedingly successful” with the theme “Drug-Free Society” under the motto “My Culture, My Identity” during April 18 and 19.
Hun, a Thadou philosophical word meaning a celebration of time and season of the sprouting of seeds during the spring, is a celebration of the age-old continuing rich cultural heritage and the largest cultural festival of the Thadou tribe since time immemorial.
Thanking the Almighty God for the abundant blessings for the exceedingly successful celebration of the recently concluded 5th State Level 2-day Hun – Thadou Cultural Festival, Thadou Inpi – GHQ President, Lamminthang Kipgen also conveyed the heartfelt gratitude of the Thadou people to the state government of Manipur, particularly, to the Governor of Manipur Anusuiya Uikey, and the Chief Minister of Manipur, N. Biren Singh, for declaring the festival as a state holiday (restricted) on April 7 every year from this year onward and also for gracing the event as chief guests.
He also conveyed special thanks to the Union Cabinet Minister for Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda, and Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Education, Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh for attending the event.
On behalf of the Thadou people, Lamminthang Kipgen also thanked all the ministers, MLAs, and all other VVIPs and VIPs who truly warmed the 2-day of the event with their attendance and support in various ways and helping to make it a grand success.
The Thadou Inpi President also conveyed special thanks to the former Miss Universe Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu and internationally renowned fashion designer Robert Naorem for their impressive shows and also the renowned singer Benjamin Sum and his music band for their enthralling performance, besides the many different local artists, dancers, performers and singers, including cultural troupes of Thadou tribe and other different tribes or communities for their magnificent shows.
He also expressed heartfelt gratitude to the various Pastors and Motbung TBA women choir and also performers of traditional Thadou for the impressive show to signify Hun festival and the Thadou Gal/Thadou War (19-17-19) drama show from Lamhil led by Guru Yammang Haokip and party.
The Thadou Inpi also congratulates the winners of Mr and Miss Thadou contest and appreciates all the participants.
It also thanked the Thadou leaders, organizations and great minds, minister Nemcha Kipgen and Minister Letpao Haokip and other Thadou MLAs, politicians, dignitaries, government officers, chiefs, Thadou Artistes Association, volunteers and of course the members of the organizing committees of the event because of whom the event was remarkably and exceedingly successful, making it a world-class cultural event, a record breaker for such events in the state history.
It stated that it was truly an honour to have Chungkhokai Doungel, founder secretary of TSA and ex-minister of Manipur as the Hun Pa (father title) of this year’s Thadou cultural festival and we are truly happy to him and his family, including his two sons P. Doungel and C. Doungel, both DGP in the police department for their outstanding roles in the event.
The Thadou Inpi also thanked the whole Thadou community, Kangpokpi Town Committee and all the participants, attendees on ground and online, and well-wishers from all communities of the state and beyond as well as security personnel and media persons for covering the event.
