March 23, 2026: The second edition of the Angling Festival 2026 is set to take place at Kagiujai along the Barak River in Rianglong village, promising a blend of sport, eco-tourism, and community participation.
The festival is being jointly organised by Rianglong village in Manipur and Ntu village in Nagaland. Participants and visitors are expected to arrive on March 25, with the main festival activities scheduled for March 26 and 27, followed by departure on March 28.
The opening ceremony on March 26 will be graced by MLA Awangbow Newmai as Chief Guest, while Namsinrei Panmei, Caretaker Chairman of the Tamenglong Autonomous District Council (TADC), will attend as Guest of Honour. The closing ceremony on March 27 will feature Smt. C. Dory Yanthan, District Fishery Officer of Peren, Nagaland, as Chief Guest.
A one-hour Open Angling Session will be held immediately after the opening ceremony. Participants will be required to use fishing rods and hooks provided by the organisers, as personal equipment will not be permitted. Winners will be determined based on the largest fish caught by weight, irrespective of species.
The festival includes three competition categories—Open Angling, Professional, and Amateur. Registration fees have been fixed at Rs. 500 for Open Angling, Rs. 2,000 for Professional, and Rs. 1,000 for Amateur participants. Cash prizes range from Rs. 3,000 for Open category winners to a top prize of Rs. 50,000 in the Professional category.
Detailed rules for the Professional and Amateur categories will be shared during registration. Visitors are allowed to bring their own tents, while affordable homestay and food arrangements will also be available.
Several dignitaries, including officials from the Fisheries Department and district administration, are expected to attend the event.
Notably, a one-kilometre stretch of the Barak River at Rianglong has been preserved for over seven years to protect indigenous fish species.
