Director of Ranganiketan International Center for Manipur Art and Culture, Ajit Das, said, “We can protect ourselves when we are able to safeguard our culture and traditions,” while stating that protecting culture and tradition is equally important as preserving integrity.
He made this statement as the chief guest during the closing ceremony of “The XXX Guru Kirtana Seva 2023” (a festival of Manoharsai) at Kwakeithel Nganapi Thong, Imphal West.
The event was organised by the Gulapi Nata Sankirtana Academy.
Das praised the efforts of Guru Kirtana in preserving the treasures passed down by our forefathers for the upcoming generations, as well as honouring the gurus.
He urged the artists to never forget that the treasures of kala and sanskriti cannot be found in other places in the world.
He emphasised that when people neglect and reject their own culture, tradition, and religion, their groups will soon fade away.
For students, a teacher never truly passes away as long as the students follow the teachings of their teacher, he said.
During the programme, the Guru Khwairakpam Leibakmacha Singh Award was presented to Pung Yeiba Hanjaba of Shri Ramji Prabhu and Sapam Kullabi, and the Oja Khwairakpam Wangkhei Singh Award was given to Sutradhari and State Awardee, Ningombam Madhabi Devi.
As part of the programme, Manoharsai was performed by Manoharsai Ashram of Wangkhei Ningthem Pukhri Mapal.
The programme was also attended by the renowned writer Laishram Memo as the president and LEIKOl president Kshetrimayum Subadani as the guest of honour.
