Imphal, Nov. 2 -- Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla inaugurated the first North East Waree Leeba Festival today at the Irom Meijrao Mamang Community Hall in Imphal West district, marking the start of a five-day regional event aimed at preserving the traditional Meitei narrative art form.

Organised by the Repertory of Waree Leeba, Khurai, in collaboration with the Irom Meijrao Women for Cultural Centre, the festival began with the Governor paying floral tributes to the portraits of three deceased Waree Leeba gurus and felicitating serving master storytellers from Assam and Tripura.

Addressing the gathering, the Governor commended the organisers for bringing together regional artists and said the dramatic oral performance served as a liv...