UK pop band Blue, comprising Lee Ryan, Simon Webbe, Duncan James and Antony Costa, enthralled music lovers on Saturday with a captivating performance at the Sangai Music Festival in Manipur. Playing to a packed audience, the boy band had fans on their feet as they delivered some of their most beloved hits, including their chart-topping track ‘One Love’. The atmosphere was further elevated by dynamic opening acts fromlocal artists Winso, Somayo and Alamle, who set the stage with high-energy performances. Ahead of the show, Antony Costa shared his excitement during a media interaction, expressing how delighted the group was to return to India after a significant gap. He also spoke about how eagerly they had been looking forward to performing at the festival, highlighting the band’s fondness for Indian audiences and the enthusiasm they bring.Blue’s performance emerged as one of the highlights of the music festival, which was held from November 28 to 30 at the Archery Ground, Khuman Lampak Stadium in Manipur. This musical showcase formed the concluding segment of the 12th edition of the Sangai Festival, which kicked off on November 21 and wrapped up on November 30. First organised in 2010, the Sangai Festival has steadily grown to become Manipur’s premier cultural extravaganza and is widely regarded as the state’s flagship tourism event. The 10-day celebration is often described as a “Canvas of Culture”, bringing together Manipur’s diverse ethnic communities through traditional crafts, indigenous cuisines, dance, music and art.The festival takes its name from the endangered Sangai deer, found only in Manipur’s Keibul Lamjao National Park, the world’s only floating national park. By spotlighting this rare species and the state’s unique natural and cultural heritage, the Sangai Festival plays a crucial role in promoting Manipur as a vibrant and compelling tourism destination.
