Feb 24, 2025: At the annual award distribution ceremony of the Manipur State Kala Akademi (MSKA) held today at the Darbar Hall of Raj Bhavan in Imphal, Governor AK Bhalla expressed his deep admiration for the vibrant and diverse cultural heritage of Manipur.
He noted that while he had long heard of Manipuri art and culture, witnessing it firsthand reaffirmed the state’s global reputation in the artistic world.
AK Bhalla highlighted the Classical Manipuri Dance’s prestigious standing among the world’s classical dances and praised the richness of folk traditions such as Lai Haraoba and the folk dances from both the valley and hill regions of the state.
He also mentioned other iconic art forms like Nata Sankirtana, Thang-Ta, Shumang Leela, and the narrative arts like Khongjom Parva.
The Governor then distributed MSKA Fellowships, MSKA Awards, and MSKA Young Talent Awards to the distinguished artists and writers, acknowledging their invaluable contributions to Manipuri culture.
He commended the Akademi for recognizing emerging talents and emphasized that the MSKA’s awards symbolize the highest standard of excellence. Special Commissioner M. Joy Singh and Commissioner N. Ashok Kumar were present at the ceremony.
