Sangai Festival

Sangai Festival is Manipur's state tourism festival, held every year from 21 to 30 November across multiple venues in and around Imphal. It is named after the Sangai (Rucervus eldii eldii) — the brow-antlered deer endemic to Manipur and the state animal — found only in the floating phumdi grasslands of Keibul Lamjao National Park on Loktak Lake.

The festival is the single largest showcase of Manipur's diversity, bringing together the Meitei valley culture and the hill tribes of the Naga and Kuki-Zo groups in one ten-day programme of dance, music, sport, crafts and food.

• Classical Manipuri Raas Leela performances
• Thang-Ta martial art and indigenous games
• Polo matches in the birthplace of modern polo
• Pung Cholom drum dance
• Loktak Lake and Keibul Lamjao tours

• Single festival showcasing both Meitei valley and hill-tribe cultures
• See Manipuri Raas Leela in its home state
• Side trips to Loktak's floating phumdis and Sangai habitat
• Strong crafts marketplace — Moirang phee, black pottery, Kauna mats

The festival in its current ten-day form was launched in 2010 by Manipur Tourism, building on an earlier tourism festival that had been held in different shapes since 1991. It is held every November to coincide with cool, dry weather suitable for outdoor programming.

• Annual dates: 21–30 November (ten days, fixed).
• Main venues: Hapta Kangjeibung, BOAT (Bhagyachandra Open Air Theatre), Mapal Kangjeibung (polo ground), Lamboi Khongnangkhong and Loktak Lake / Keibul Lamjao National Park.

Manipur is home to the Meitei community in the central valley, alongside Naga and Kuki-Zo groups in the surrounding hills. Sangai is designed as a shared platform — Meitei classical Manipuri Raas Leela, Thang-Ta martial art and Pung Cholom drum dance are programmed alongside hill-tribe folk dances and instruments.

The festival is positioned as both a tourism flagship and a unifying state event. The Sangai deer was once thought extinct and is now a symbol of conservation; using it as the festival's name links cultural display to the protection of Loktak's floating phumdi habitat.

• Classical Manipuri Raas Leela, the temple dance form devoted to Radha-Krishna.
• Thang-Ta (sword and spear) and Sarit-Sarak (unarmed) martial-arts demonstrations.
• Polo matches in the birthplace of modern polo (the Meitei game of Sagol Kangjei).
• Pung Cholom and Dhol Cholom drum dances.
• Boat tours of Loktak Lake and viewings of the Sangai deer at Keibul Lamjao.
• Crafts marketplace featuring Moirang phee, Wangkhei phee, black pottery (Longpi) and Kauna water-reed mats.

• Air: Imphal Airport (IMF) is well connected to Kolkata, Guwahati and Delhi.
• Rail: Manipur's first railway station opened recently at Khongsang/Jiribam; mainline travellers still typically arrive via Dimapur (DMU), ~215 km from Imphal.
• Road: Imphal is connected to Dimapur by NH-2 (8–10 hours) and to Guwahati via Silchar by NH-37.

Indian nationals do not currently require an Inner Line Permit for Manipur (verify the latest status before travel — the rule has changed in recent years).

Foreign nationals visiting Manipur are advised to consult the Ministry of Home Affairs and Manipur Tourism for current Protected Area Permit (PAP) requirements; rules have been periodically relaxed and tightened.

Late November in Imphal is cool and dry, with daytime temperatures around 20–25 °C and nights dropping to 8–12 °C. Pack a warm fleece and a light jacket; rain is unlikely.

Imphal offers the widest range of stays — Classic Grande, Hotel Imphal, The Sangai Continental and several mid-range options near Thangal Bazaar and BT Road. Festival week is busy; book at least a month ahead.

• Raas Leela costumes (kumil and potloi skirts) photograph best in even diffused light at BOAT.
• For the Sangai deer at Keibul Lamjao, plan an early-morning boat trip and carry a 300 mm or longer lens.
• Polo matches at Mapal Kangjeibung are fast — 1/1000s or faster shutter and a 70–200 mm work well.

• Loktak Lake and Keibul Lamjao National Park (the floating national park).
• Kangla Fort, the historic seat of the Meitei kings, in central Imphal.
• Ima Keithel, the world's largest all-women market.
• INA Memorial Complex at Moirang.

A curated selection of photographs from Sangai Festival. All images are placeholders until license-cleared festival-specific photographs are sourced — see our photography policy.

Image pending reviewSangai FestivalAwaiting licensed photograph

Image pending reviewSangai FestivalAwaiting licensed photograph

Sangai Festival is a living cultural event hosted by the Meitei & hill tribes community. Please attend as a respectful guest, not a spectator.

• Day 1 — Arrive Imphal; visit Kangla Fort and the all-women Ima Keithel market.
• Day 2 — Full day at the Sangai Festival main venue (Hapta Kangjeibung / BOAT): tribal pavilions, Manipuri classical dance and indigenous sports.
• Day 3 — Drive to Loktak Lake; boat ride across the phumdis and visit Keibul Lamjao National Park, home of the Sangai brow-antlered deer.
• Day 4 — Day trip to Andro for the pottery village, Mutua Bahadur Museum and traditional Meitei houses.
• Day 5 — Return to the festival for the polo finals and evening concert.
• Day 6 — Morning at the INA Memorial at Moirang and the WWII Imphal War Cemetery, then transfer for departure.