Imphal, Mar 14 (PTI) The Holi festival, celebrated on Friday by the majority Meitei community in violence-hit Manipur, was low-key for the second year in a row.
One of the biggest festivals of the community, Holi or Yaosang is held for five days in the northeastern state and it officially commenced on Friday evening with the burning of straw huts built at Shri Govindaji temple complex in Palace Compound and at a few other localities.
Like the previous year, the event has been restricted to religious activities associated with the festival and community sports events.
No entertainment programmes such as the nightly cultural dance would be held, according to organisers.
Manipur has been rocked by ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities since May 2023, rendering at least 250 people dead and thousands homeless.
Devdutta Phurailatpam, a Meitei priest, said, “The festival is low-key due to two reasons. People, particularly internally displaced persons, are yet to return to their native places and are facing hardships. Besides, there are apprehensions of attacks by miscreants at the peripheral part of valley areas during the celebrations.” During the Yaosang, children walk from door to door in their neighbourhood, give blessings to adults, and in return, they receive money.
Ex-Manipur CM N Biren Singh calls for peace on Holi
Manipur’s former chief minister N Biren Singh on Friday said he prayed for restoration of peace in the state on the occasion of the Holi festival.
Holi, which is observed for five days in the state, has been celebrated in a sustained manner due to the prevailing situation in Manipur, he said.
In his first video message since his resignation last month, Singh said, “I extend my best wishes to all on the occasion of Holi. Holi is traditionally and historically inseparable from Manipur.” The festival celebrates the triumph of truth, said the former CM of the state which is under President’s Rule.
Manipur has been rocked by ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities since May 2023, rendering at least 250 people dead and thousands homeless. Many of the internally displaced people are now living in relief camps.
“Like in the previous year, the festival has been celebrated in a sustained manner due to the prevailing situation in the state. I also share my grievances with those staying in relief camps. My belief, as well as prayer, is that peace is restored in the state soon and once again the previous life that existed in the state before the violence began is established,” he said.
Singh resigned as chief minister on February 9, after a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president J P Nadda. President’s rule was imposed in the state four days later.
(This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)
