Imphal, December 16: As a part of its undertaking for promotion of the state culture, the Gandhi Memorial Hall which is the oldest auditorium of the state is going to be expanded to a 2000-seated auditorium hall under the initiative of Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh government, said Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam.
This was stated today during the week-long programme of “Culture for Friendship and Cooperation” being organized by the Manipur Film Development Corporation at the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy Auditorium. He further said that the government is trying to promote the rich Manipuri art and culture. The government has constructed some big auditoriums like MFDC multipurpose hall and City Convention Hall in Imphal East district under Central government sponsorship for development of arts and culture of Manipur.
There was a time Manipur had only one auditorium hall which was the Gandhi Memorial (GM) Hall. Now, the place is going to be upgraded and expanded into a 2000-seated standard auditorium hall, said Gaikhangam.
Alexander V Mazirka, the Director of Russian Centre for Science and Culture, Kolkata said that this year the nation is celebrating the 58th year of the first women in space in 1963. He added that the former Soviet Union is progressing very fast in technology and other fields. Now, we are focusing on the field of culture and extending friendship with people from other nations. “Today, you are here to witness the week long programme of culture in Imphal and in the many place of Manipur and it will be colourful,” he stated while inviting the attendance of the local people.
President of the function Dr M Nara said that this week long festival is a good chance for exchanging culture dances between Russia and Manipur through Indo-Russian-Manipur trilateral dialogue.
He said that yesterday the oldest Olympian of Manipur Nillakamol led a torch rally from Khongjom and the torch was handed over to Irina K. Bashkirova, Consulate General of the Russian Federation, Kolkata for the upcoming 28th Winter Olympic at Suchi, Russia next year. He said that this is a good opportunity to have a cultural exchange between Russia and Manipur, and that the troupes from Russia may come to the state and vice versa to showcase their rich traditions and arts.
Later, the Manipuri Jagoi has performed a Manipuri mallet on Kabuliwalla and a music fusion of penna and penao.
