In a show of cultural unity, Manipur BJP MLAs, including those from the Meetei community, participated in the 1st Assam State Level Hun Thadou Cultural Festival 2025, held at the Rukmini Nagar Auditorium in Guwahati yesterday.
The festival, an iconic celebration of the Thadou tribe’s rich heritage, saw active participation from several prominent leaders of the Thadou community, further highlighting the cultural diversity of Manipur.
Among the key attendees were BJP MLAs Govindas Konthoujam of Bishnupur Assembly Constituency, Thongam Shanti of Moirang AC, Mayanglambam Rameshwar of Kakching AC, Diganglung Gamgmei of Nungba AC, L. Susindro of Khurai AC, and Kh. Ibomcha of Lamlai AC, who joined hundreds of Thadou people from across the region in a vibrant display of tradition and solidarity.
The event was organized by the Thadou Community International, in collaboration with the Thadou Inpi Manipur and the Thadou Students’ Association, GHQ, and witnessed a diverse crowd, including Thadou communities from Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao Autonomous District, and NC Hills of Assam.
The festival served not only as a celebration of Thadou cultural identity but also as a platform for reaffirming the tribe’s historical and ethnic roots.
Speaking at the event, senior BJP leader Michael Lamjathang Haokip, a leader of the Thadou community, took a firm stance on an important issue that has been a subject of debate in recent times.
He emphatically clarified that the Thadou tribe of Manipur is in no way linked to the Kuki community, rejecting any claims that suggest an ethnic connection between the two groups.
“Let it be known that the Thadou tribe is indigenous to Manipur, with a distinct cultural and ethnic identity. There is no connection between the Thadou tribe and the Kuki community in terms of ethnicity. Our heritage, traditions, and history are unique to us,” Haokip asserted, emphasising that the Thadou community should be recognized for its own heritage, separate from the Kuki identity.
The celebration was marked by traditional dances, music, and the display of indigenous Thadou artefacts, as well as discussions on the community’s social, political, and cultural aspirations.
Through this event, the Thadou people reiterated their long-standing presence in the region, their indigenous roots, and their ongoing contributions to the cultural landscape of Northeast India.
