Shyamkumar opens 2nd Kamjong Festival

Forest minister, Th. Shyamkumar today attended the opening ceremony of the second edition of Kamjong Festival 2018 at Kamjongdistrict headquarter.

The opening ceremony was also attended by MLA of Phungyar assembly constituency, LeishiyoKeishingas functional president while deputy commissioner of Kamjong, ZuringlaKengoo, proprietor of Arun Enterprise, ThangjamArun Kumar and headman of BungpaKhullen, MataimiChithung were the guests of honour.

Shyamkumar in his speech promised to construct a guest house at Kamjongin the next financial year. He said, "I am delighted to see so many green landscapes covering the area. We will give incentive to those villages that protect and preserve forest through recommendation from the concern district forest.”

He exalted that “As a Christian we should be honest and sincere. We should live like Christ.”

He further appealed the tourists and visitors to respect the customs, traditions and practises of the area while also wishing the gathering a merry Christmas.

LeishiyoKeishing stated that every festival is a gift from the creator and nature to the people. He implored the people to use it judiciously and replenish. “We are forest dwellers, our forefathers has been living hundreds of years in sync with nature,” he added. He also lamented, “Recently, deforestation has taken its toll due to our greed” and further urged to conserve and protect the land. “It is time to promote what we have to the outside world,” he informed.

ThangjamArun Kumar stated that Manipur has many rich natural resources and beautiful landscape to promote as tourist destination and potential in the field of sports. “It is my first visit and I am mesmerised by the scenic beauty,” he said.

He also said thatthe kind of festival will bring communal harmony.

MataimiChithungstated that the government has neglected the area even after declaring as a new district. He informed the visitors to enjoy but at the same time to respect the culture and way of life of the people.

The evening saw musical performances by Uttam, Kaiku and ThangmeisaShinglai to the delight of the crowd. The festival will wind up on December 4 and is celebrated with a theme ‘A Plastic Free Zone’ to create awareness on the use of plastic.