{"id":6151,"date":"2025-12-04T22:37:10","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T17:07:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ichelnewsnetwork.com\/?p=6151"},"modified":"2026-01-19T05:18:32","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T05:18:32","slug":"guardians-of-heritage-manipur-marks-4th-sankirtana-day-with-renewed-call-for-preservation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ichelnewsnetwork.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/04\/guardians-of-heritage-manipur-marks-4th-sankirtana-day-with-renewed-call-for-preservation\/","title":{"rendered":"Guardians of Heritage: Manipur Marks 4th Sankirtana Day with Renewed Call for Preservation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Eminent cultural personality Shri Aribam Syam Sharma today graced the 4th Sankirtana Day observance at the Chandrakirti Auditorium, Palace Compound. The event was jointly organised by the Department of Art and Culture, Manipur State Kala Akademi, Manipur University of Culture, Pala Loishang, Shri Shri Govindaji Temple Board and Manipur Nata Sankirtana Apunba.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Speaking as chief guest, Shri Syam Sharma said Manipur is a land of rich creative tradition that has produced many remarkable personalities. He noted that while Sankirtan exists across India, Manipur\u2019s Sankirtan stands apart in form, depth, and aesthetics. Emphasising the role of gurus who safeguarded the art form, he urged the authorities to create a dedicated space to honour departed gurus who passed down this cultural heritage.<\/p>\n

He cautioned that rapid societal changes pose a challenge to traditional practices and stressed the need for experts to take concrete steps to protect the unique identity of Manipuri Sankirtan. Highlighting its inscription on UNESCO\u2019s Representative List of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2013, he warned that its global recognition may fade if its core aesthetics erode.<\/p>\n

Shri Syam also urged the formation of a committee to preserve the state\u2019s diverse artistic traditions and suggested celebrating Sankirtana Day as a festival to enable proper documentation and protection of its original form.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Commissioner (Art & Culture) Shri H. Gyan Prakash, IAS, acknowledged Shri Syam Sharma\u2019s pivotal contribution to securing UNESCO recognition for Manipuri Sankirtan. He assured that the department will continue efforts to preserve and promote the state\u2019s cultural heritage.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

As part of the observance, eminent gurus and Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardees were felicitated. Students of Manipur University of Culture presented Nupi Pala, followed by a Sankirtana performance by MANSA.<\/p>\n

The event was attended by Shri M. Joy Singh, Retd. IAS; Shri K. Dinamani Singh, Director, Art & Culture; Smt. Sunanda Thokchom, Secretary, Manipur State Kala Akademi; faculty and staff of MUC, and other invitees.<\/p>\n

Sankirtan in Manipur is a ritualistic performance art blending singing, drumming and dancing in devotion to Lord Krishna. Central to Manipuri Vaishnavite culture, it is performed at major festivals and life-cycle ceremonies by male (Nupa Pala) and female (Nupi Pala) groups within temple courtyards or circular performance spaces.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Eminent cultural personality Shri Aribam Syam Sharma today graced the 4th Sankirtana Day observance at the Chandrakirti Auditorium, Palace Compound. The event was jointly organised by the Department of Art … Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6159,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[32,33],"tags":[1584,1585,1586,1587,1588,1589,1590,1591,1592,1593],"class_list":["post-6151","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-inn","category-state","tag-aribam-syam-sharma","tag-art-culture-department","tag-chandrakirti-auditorium","tag-cultural-preservation","tag-manipur-culture","tag-manipur-state-kala-akademi","tag-manipur-university-of-culture","tag-manipuri-sankirtan","tag-sankirtana-day","tag-unesco-intangible-heritage","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ichelnewsnetwork.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6151","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ichelnewsnetwork.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ichelnewsnetwork.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ichelnewsnetwork.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ichelnewsnetwork.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6151"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ichelnewsnetwork.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6151\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8282,"href":"https:\/\/ichelnewsnetwork.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6151\/revisions\/8282"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ichelnewsnetwork.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6151"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ichelnewsnetwork.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6151"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ichelnewsnetwork.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6151"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}