On the first auspicious occasion of the Manipur Day, the people of the state once again organise a major cultural programme to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the state. The festival which is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of the Indian month of August is dedicated to celebrating Manipur Day and observe the achievements of the Manipur district. The event includes folk dance performances by the local artists as well as cultural programmes, traditional dances and music. To mark the occasion, Manipur day celebrations in the district are arranged in the district's heritage buildings and churches as well as at the places where the Manipur Line is known to have intersected.

 

Manipur Day is celebrated with great pomp and show, as the district is a part of the beautiful northeast Indian states of India. The northeast part of India was under the rule of the British for more than a century. A lot of historic monuments and temples in Manipur are a testimony to this period of Manipur's history. The most famous of these structures is the Chandani Chowk or Lake Palace, which was destroyed in the First World War. Restoration work and construction of new buildings in Manipur are commemorated during Manipur Sangai Tourism Festival, which is organised to celebrate the success of the first Manipur film festival.

 

On this day the tourists can go to the renowned wildlife sanctuaries of Manipur and explore many exotic species of flora and fauna. Among the prominent species of flora and fauna which are present in the region are the tiger, wild boar, wild deer, wild bear and many other species. Traveling to Manipur to see such species is not easy due to the high risk factor and so the organizers of Manipur Day celebrations offer safe and secure safaris and tours to the visitors. Among the popular tour packages offered to the tourists are the Manipur Sangai Tour and Bullu Raj Tour which include visit to many beautiful temples, visit to the national park and the traditional village life.

 

The celebrations on the 25th anniversary of India's independence day in Manipur will be incomplete without the mention of the legendary queen of Manipur, Subhadra Bhaktapur. Born in 1770 in the state of Bihar in the south, the name of the princess who ruled over Manipur and all the surrounding areas is associated with royalty. It is believed that she was the daughter of King Ajatsatru and Rama of Kashi (the present states of Gujarat and Punjab) but according to myth, the royal family had got separated due to reasons unknown to them, and she decided to travel from Kashi to Manipur to win back her husband who had left her. It is said that she arrived in the southern part of Manipur where the Kongo prince (from the name of the son of the then ruler Ajatsatru) was also staying. With the support of the people of the hill station, Bhaktapur crossed the Beaches and reached theitol of Manipur, where she delivered a speech to the assembled manipur day.

 

Subhadra's speech during her arrival at the Manipur fort (the same as that of Rama of Kashi) has become an occasion to be remembered by Manipuris and is marked by great celebrations. There is also a festival of 'Bhaktapur satta' that marks the importance of Subhadra's visit. The festival is celebrated on the last day of Magh (January) and is dedicated to celebrate the queen's golden jubilee. This day is celebrated with great pomp and show, as the entire town is decorated with colorful flowers, lanterns, wall murals, and music.

 

Today, most tourists are aware of the fact that the origin of Bhaktapur satta is uncertain but most people have a strong belief that it belongs to Orissa. In fact, the day is also known as 'Rama Basav' in West Bengal, India and is celebrated with even more fanfare and grandeur. On the whole, Manipur has an interesting tradition in celebrating its most revered festival Bhaktapur Day. Tourism in Manipur is fast catching up pace and this is very evident from the fact that many tour operators offer Bhaktapur Day package and travel packages to tourists and honeymooners booking their tour in the state. All you have to do is find a good tour operator offering tailor made tour packages for the destination you wish to visit and make your dream come true!