Photo Courtesy: nenow
Imphal: Manipur kicked off its 37th Loktak Day celebrations this Sunday. The festival marks its first year as an officially recognized state event after a recent Cabinet decision. Festivities run for two days across venues in Thanga and Komlakhong. The state aims to save the lake. Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh started the event by flagging off a promotional bike rally meant to pull the public into wetland conservation efforts.
The state Cabinet selected the full-moon day of the lunar month of Mera to host the annual festival. The opening day included a seminar focused on the ecological struggles facing the water body. Environmentalist K. Jugeshwore and Manipur University professor Ksh. Lalbihari Singh spoke to attendees about shifts in the lake environment and how the Ithai Barrage impacts surrounding habitats.
Ng. Sanajaoba Meitei, Superintending Engineer for the Loktak Development Authority, confirmed his agency remains focused on protecting the ecosystem. He said, "conservation as both an environmental priority and an important responsibility linked to Manipur's cultural heritage." The Loktak Development Authority and local community clubs handle the organizing duties for the multi-day event.
Events include traditional sports, cultural shows, and the release of fish fingerlings to bolster aquatic life. Thanga MLA T. Robindro pushed residents to use sustainable habits to protect the lake. He noted that saving the water is necessary to maintain the adjacent Keibul Lamjao National Park. That site remains the world's only floating national park.
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