Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya organized a special Lecture on the occasion of International Museum Day 2019 by DKeisham Sobita Devi (Director Art & Culture and Former Chairperson of Manipur State Commission for Women, Govt. of Manipur) delivered on the Topic “The Role of Manipuri Costume in Mounting Museum as Cultural Hub for the Posterity” and she highlighted the aspects of human creativity especially on the areas of traditional textiles/ costumes that could undoubtedly provide a fascinating hub for museum audience, if aesthetically, and meaningfully displayed and presented. In this lecture, she described about the textiles and costumes of the people of Manipur; from the royal attires, ritualistic dresses, marriage and death costumes, the wears of Noble Men, festive dress, Dance costumes, codified dresses of the Manipuri Martial Art forms and colourful hand woven textiles of the ethnic tribes of Manipur.

“Traditional Costumes which includes all dresses, attires and ornaments highlight the dignity of the users. Many a cultures reveal the social hierarchy, identity and many facets of their civilization. Since 33 AD, Manipur was a princely state, being a part of the Asia Pacific region till 1091 AD when it lost its freedom in the hands of the British. Manipur yielded and acknowledged her admirable spectrum of knowledge system which still reflects the richness in its cultural heritage through a medium of material cultural objects especially the costumes in respect of establishing the ethnic identity and profile, social hierarchy, aesthetic attainment and religious concept, rooted in the cultural ethos. They may prove an indispensable entity when it is mounted in Museums as a cultural hub for posterity”, she added..

The lecture was chaired by Prof V Vijaykumar, Vice Chancellor, National Law Institute University, Bhopal and he told that I am belonging to field of Law but I am student of sociology and history. So to me interested to understand the "Culture". I am amazed that Madam told such a beautiful manner of wearing and outfits, which automatically tell Manipur's culture. He shared the experience of Sanchi Museum visit and he told that we can be able to transfer our tradition to our generation by displaying such items in museums. He said that International Museum Day such an event the media should try to reach to the masses.