May 31, 2026

Two artists from Manipur, Mr. Shrikant Chingangbam and Mr. Amarjit Pebam, were able to showcase Manipur’s rich talent of art and culture at India Day Basel on 31 May 2026. The artists, attired in their traditional Meitei clan colours, performed a series of contemporary instrumental and vocal pieces during the event held at Landgasthof, Riehen, Basel-Stadt, that charmed the audience while highlighting the 2,000-year-old #history of Manipur.

During the event, a stall was also set up to promote various beautifully hand crafted and handloom products made by Internally Displace Person (#IDPs) from the many Relief Camps where MaolKeki Foundation (MKF) and its partners have been supporting the #IDPs for the last three years. The items were a real hit and were almost all sold out. The team was also joined by Ms. Bernadette Peterhans, a member of the MKF Advisory Board, who was delighted to meet the artists in person and is very much looking forward to visiting Manipur one day.

We are indebted to the Department of Tourism, Government of Manipur, for its support and to the many individual donors from the Manipuri diaspora whose contributions helped ease the financial weight of the trip. Day-to-day operational coordination was provided by Ms. Nirupa Sanjenbam, Head of Projects, while the local logistics in the Basel area was provided by our Trustee, Dr. Shachi Gurumayum. MaolKeki Foundation is also very thankful to Dr. Ram Mitra, President of the Association of the Friends of India, Basel, for giving the opportunity to participate, and the crowd in Riehen who cheered the artists along eagerly and visited our stall in droves to snap up the items made by the IDPs. What a wonderful experience it was!