Army organises pre-Christmas celebrations in Manipur

An important facet of this approach of the army is to involve the locals in its celebrations and also take part in their joys and festivals.

A pre-Christmas celebration was organised by Moltuk battalion of 26 Sector Assam Rifles under the aegis of IGAR(South) in Manipur on Sunday.

A large number of civilians took part in the celebrations.

The event began with a church service that was attended by the commanding officer and the village chiefs. This was followed with a mini-fair which had all sorts of activities to keep the adults and the children engaged.

Since the day coincided with the ‘Vijay Diwas’, the battalion had also put up a separate enclosure running a short movie on the Indian Army for everybody to watch and feel proud. A sumptuous meal was served. The commanding officer took this opportunity to interact with the locals and personally wish them a merry Christmas.

On the other hand, the Sajik battalion of 28 Sector Assam Rifles under the aegis of HQ IGAR (South) organised Advent Christmas Celebrations over the weekend.

The elaborate celebrations witnessed willing and extensive participation from one and all. The locals were upbeat about the whole concept and acknowledged that it was like the Sangai Festival of the Sajik Valley in Manipur.

The events included conduct of Mobile Medical Camps at multiple locations which culminated with a Mega Medical Camp at Sajik Tampak.

The Medical Camp was assisted by District Hospital, Chandel by providing specialist staff including gynecologist, ophthalmologist, paediatrician and surgeon.

Over 1,200 patients were provided medicines/specialist medical care during these medical camps.

The Advent Christmas Celebrations were organised at Sajik Ground and was attended by over 1,800 people of 34 surrounding villages.

Sajik Battalion along with Village Chiefs and the Church organizations closely coordinated and planned the event. The special message on the occasion was delivered by Rev Mark Thangkhanai. He not only praised the Assam Rifles but also encouraged the locals to willingly support the efforts of Assam Rifles to bring peace in the area. The local heroes who have done well in Sajik area in last one year were felicitated.

After the ceremonial events, special presentations by renowned local singers like Roslyn Kimbuang and Lalcha Haokip swayed the crowds to the beautiful melodies of Christmas. The cultural programme showcased the talent from the area and included Cultural Dance, Choreography, Group Songs, Solo, Group Dance and Single Dance performances depicting various aspects of Christmas.

To add more flavor to the occasion multiple stalls were placed catering for local taste buds. The evening witnessed enthusiastic participation from the youth as the stage was set open for solo/group performances. Multiple singers/dancers of all age groups showcased their passion and the best performances in each category were suitably rewarded.

This is for the first time ever that Sajik witnessed Advent Christmas Celebrations of this scale wherein the locals got together for fun and festivities. The positivity created by the event will certainly usher the area towards peace in the next year and has forged irreversible bonds between the locals and the Assam Rifles.