Waree Leeba Festival 2026 began in Manipur with the opening of the first North East Waree Leeba Festival at Irom Meijrao Mamang Community Hall in Imphal West district. The five-day cultural event was inaugurated by Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla. The festival brings together traditional storytellers and cultural groups from different parts of the Northeast to celebrate and preserve the region’s rich storytelling traditions.

The event is an important step towards protecting Waree Leeba, a traditional storytelling art form of Manipur. It also provides a platform for artists to share their skills, exchange cultural knowledge and connect with audiences from different states.

First North East Waree Leeba Festival 2026

The first North East Waree Leeba Festival is being organised by the Repertory of Waree Leeba, Khurai, also known as the Repertory of Waree Leeba, Manipur, in association with the Irom Meijrao Women for Cultural Centre.

The Ministry of Culture is supporting the event through its Cultural Function and Production Grant scheme. The programme has been designed to encourage traditional artists and create awareness about the importance of preserving local cultural practices.

The five-day festival aims to promote Waree Leeba across the Northeast and strengthen cultural cooperation among the states. It gives traditional performers an opportunity to present their art before a wider audience and helps younger generations learn about the region’s cultural heritage.

Ten Cultural Troupes Participate in the Festival

A total of ten cultural troupes are participating in the festival. Five groups are from Manipur, while the remaining five represent other northeastern states, including Assam and Tripura.

The participation of artists from different states makes the event a regional cultural gathering. Each group brings its own experiences and traditional storytelling styles, creating opportunities for cultural exchange.

The festival programme includes performances, tributes to departed gurus and recognition of active Waree Leeba practitioners. These activities honour the people who have contributed to keeping the traditional art form alive.

Artist Shyamkanhai Singh presented an episode from the Mahabharata during the programme. His narration demonstrated how traditional storytelling can bring well-known stories to life through spoken words, expressions and gestures.

Manipur’s Art and Culture Minister Kh Loken Singh also attended the inaugural programme.

What Is Waree Leeba?

Waree Leeba is a traditional storytelling art form of Manipur. The word refers to the practice of narrating stories before an audience. It is an important part of the state’s cultural heritage and has traditionally been used to share religious stories, epics, folklore and moral lessons.

A Waree Leeba performance mainly depends on the narrator’s spoken delivery. The storyteller uses changes in voice, facial expressions and hand gestures to present different characters and events. These techniques help the audience understand the story and remain connected with the performance.

The narrator may present stories from traditional literature, historical events, religious texts and popular folklore. The Mahabharata is one example of an epic that can be presented through this storytelling tradition.

Unlike modern digital entertainment, Waree Leeba depends largely on the skill and expression of the storyteller. It allows people to experience stories through live interaction and traditional performance methods.

Importance of Preserving Traditional Storytelling

Traditional storytelling forms are an important part of the cultural identity of a community. They preserve local languages, beliefs, customs, history and knowledge that have been passed from one generation to another.

However, traditional art forms can face challenges when younger generations become less familiar with them. Limited performance opportunities and changes in entertainment habits can also affect the number of active practitioners.

The Waree Leeba Festival creates an opportunity to address these challenges. By bringing artists together and recognising experienced practitioners, the event encourages people to value and learn the traditional art form.

The participation of cultural groups from Assam, Tripura and other northeastern states also shows how regional festivals can strengthen relationships between communities. Such events help people understand the cultural similarities and differences found across the Northeast.

Ministry of Culture Supports the Festival

The Ministry of Culture is funding the festival under the Cultural Function and Production Grant scheme. This scheme provides project-based financial assistance to eligible cultural organisations for approved cultural programmes and activities.

The support helps organisations arrange performances, cultural events and other programmes that promote India’s traditional art forms. It also creates opportunities for artists and cultural groups to present their work before larger audiences.

The support for the Waree Leeba Festival reflects the importance of cooperation between cultural organisations and government institutions in protecting traditional heritage.

Closing Ceremony Scheduled for 6 November

The five-day festival is scheduled to conclude on November 6, 2026. Several important personalities are expected to attend the closing ceremony.

The expected guests include Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam, Maharaja Leishemba Sanajaoba, JNMDA Director Pukhrambam Bilash Singh and MSKA awardee Loitongbam Brajamohon Singh.

The closing programme is expected to recognise the contributions of participating artists and cultural groups. The festival also provides an opportunity to encourage future programmes for promoting Waree Leeba and other traditional art forms across the Northeast.

By bringing together ten troupes and celebrating the work of traditional storytellers, the first North East Waree Leeba Festival 2026 gives Manipur’s cultural heritage a wider regional platform.