Thousands of devotees mark the conclusion of Manipur's nine-day Kang festival with traditional chariot procession, rituals and community celebrations
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IMPHAL — The nine-day Kang (Rath Yatra) festival, which began on July 16, concluded across Manipur on Friday with thousands of devotees participating in traditional rituals and chariot-pulling ceremonies.
The concluding day's rituals included the pulling of the Kang (traditional chariot) and the offering of flowers and fruits to Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra.
The main celebration was held at the Shree Shree Govindajee Temple complex in the Palace Compound area of Imphal East district, where a large number of devotees, dressed in traditional attire, gathered despite the hot weather to take part in the festival.
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple at Sangaiprou on Airport Road in Imphal West district also marked the occasion by pulling a miniature Kang along the road.
The festival was celebrated in almost all localities across the Imphal valley, with religious rituals held at mandaps and community halls throughout the nine-day observance.
Community feasts also formed an integral part of the celebrations, with khichri—a traditional dish made from rice and lentils—served to devotees until the concluding day.
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, accompanied by his family in traditional attire, attended the Kanglen (Purna Jatra) ceremony at the Shree Shree Govindajee Temple on Friday.