For the first time, Kayinu Village, Mao Gate, situated 110 km away from Imphal, organised the Cherry Blossom cum 3rd Flower Festival.
The festival, being organised by Cherry Blossom Organising Committee, attracted a large crowd from all over the state as well as neighboring states.
The Cherry Blossom Festival is being initiated by one of the most energetic Director of Institute of Bio-resources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Prof Dinabandhu Sahu, who also initiated the same festival in Shillong three years back.
Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and his Council of Ministers also took part in the festival as Chief Guest, Guest of Honours and President respectively
The Chief Minister announced that the Flower Festival cum Manipur Cherry Blossom Festival will be a part of the Manipur Sangai Festival from next year i.e.2018.
Minister for Forest and Environment Th. Shyamkumar, Minister for Tribal and Hills Affairs N. Kayasii, Minister for Art and Culture L. Jayantakumar Singh, Minister for Agriculture V. Hangkhanlian, Minister for CAF & PD Karam Shyam. Minister for PHED Losii Dikho, Deputy Commissioner of Senapati Athem Muivah, President, Mao Council M. Dilli, Director of IBSD Prof. Dinabandhu Sahoo, ADC members etc. attended the function.
The three day long 3rd Flower Festival cum 1st Manipur Cherry Blossom Festival is being organised under the theme 'Celebrating Nature's Abundance' by Mao Flower Growers' Association and District Administration, Senapati in association with Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Indian Council for Cultural Relation (ICCR), Government of India, Horticulture and Soil Conservation, Government of Manipur, Tourism department, Trade and Commerce and Public Health Engineering Department, Government of Manipur.