Manipur’s sangai festival draws record crowds to the floating lake

The Sangai Festival, named for Manipur’s brow-antlered deer, drew 80,000 visitors to the shores of Loktak Lake this year — a record for the state’s flagship tourism event.

The festival’s cultural programme — Ras Lila dance, polo exhibitions, and performances from across the hills — ran alongside a conservation fair for the lake’s fragile ecosystem.

Organisers hope the momentum carries into a year-round tourism calendar.