The 10th Bhagyachandra national festival of classical dance 2014 was inaugurated by chief minister Okram Ibobi at a solemn function at Shree Shree Gopinath-ji temple Ningthoukhong yesterday afternoon. 

The festival organised triennially is a tribute to the saint king of Manipur Rajarshi, the creator of the unique Raas leela. The festival was organised for the first time in 1989 at the historic Kangla. The highlight of the inauguration was the Nat Sankirtana by the Gurus and artists of Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy and Maha Raas performed artists, Gurus and students of Govt dance college. 

The main performance of the festival will be held at the Kangla from the 7th to 9th of this month. Renown classical dancers drawn from various of India including Manipuri classical dancers will perform solo daily.  

In his opening address, O Ibobi expressed the hope that the festival would help in promoting the priceless gift of Rajarshi Bhagyachandra to the whole world. 

IMPHAL: Manipuri Wushu players who participated in the recently concluded Kerala National Games were felicitated at Khuman Lampak Sports Complex. The Wushu team won 4 gold and 2 silver in the games. M Sadananda and L Sanatombi Chanu won a gold each in the Taijiquan event. Y Sapna won a gold medal in Changquan event and S Chaobi Devi won a gold medal in Nanquan event. While Punshiba Mayanglambam won  silver in Nanquan event H Dewan won  silver in Daoshu event. H Jaydev was the team manager for Sanshou and M Praphulo was the team manager for the Taolu. M. Sachidananda was the team coach for Taolu and Y Brojen was the team coach for the Sanshou. 

IMPHAL: BJP Manipur Pradesh President Thounaojam Chaoba today asserted that Sadar Hills will be upgraded to full-fledged district if BJP comes to power in the state. Speaking at one-day political awareness and mass enrolment programme held at CC Hall, Hengbung in Senapati district, Th Chaoba blamed Congress govt which has ruled 41 years in the state of neglecting the demand to convert Sadar Hills to a district. Although state govt claimed that law and order has improved the condition in hill areas still remained unchanged. Rebuking Chief Minister for visiting hill areas only during some festivals, Th Chaoba urged instead to look in the development of the hills. Chaoba appealed to vote for BJP in the upcoming ADC elections if people want overall developments.