Five-day Yaoshang festival underway in Manipur

Our Correspondent

Imphal, March 22 (EMN): The Manipur version of Holi called Yaoshang, a festival of the north-eastern border state is underway in Imphal.

A five-day long festival began with the burning of “yaoshang” which was constructed with bamboo and straws at every locality will conclude on March 25.

The festival marks the rejuvenation of the spirit of life and is celebrated with gaiety and fervour to commemorate Chaitanya Mahaprabhu birthday. The festival normally begins on full moon day of the Meitei Lunar month of Lamta (February-March).

The festivities is celebrated mostly in the valley area by the Meiteis collecting donations from households by young boys and girls dressed in their best attires, playing with colours and water. The main highlight of the festival includes the Thabal Chongba, a traditional Manipuri folk dance.

On the first and second day of the festival, the members of local clubs of Imphal thronged the historic Kangla Fort to collect the sacred fire for torch rallies as part of the opening of sports activities.

The media houses in Imphal have announced a five-day holiday for the festival till March 25. As a result no daily newspapers except couple of local dialect dailies in hills, will hit the stand till March 26.

The journalists’ community under the banner of All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union annual sports meet. A five-day event has started since Wednesday.

Manipur Governor Dr. Najma Heptulla, Chief Minister N Biren Singh, Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker Yumnam Khemchand in their separate messages conveyed heartiest greetings to the people of Manipur on the occasion of Yaoshang festival.