Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla attended the presentation ceremony for the Manipur State Kala Akademi (MSKA) Awards 2023 and 2024, held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Akademi in Imphal. A total of 69 individuals were honored with various awards, including the MSKA Lifetime Achievement Award, Fellowships, and accolades in categories such as Dance, Music, Shumang Leela, Thang-Ta, Tribal Culture, Literature, alongside the Young Talent and Young Writer Awards.
Thoidingjam Tombi Singh was recognized with the MSKA Lifetime Achievement Award. In his address, the Governor highlighted the importance of these awards in celebrating individual and collective cultural excellence, emphasizing that the recipients reflect Manipur’s rich artistic heritage characterized by traditions like Raas, Lai Haraoba, and numerous folk dances and musical forms from both valleys and hills. He noted that these art forms express the state’s identity and community spirit, garnering international admiration. The ceremony also showcased a lively solo dance by a Young Talent Awardee, contributing an artistic flair to the event, attended by the public, notable figures from the arts community, and senior government officials.