Wuyawon festival held in Manipur

[caption id="attachment_197588" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Shingcha Wuyawon in full bloom Wuya Kachui hill range in Manipur.[/caption] Our Correspondent Imphal, July 27 (EMN): The four day Wuyawon festival was held at the picturesque Wuya Kachui hill range of Shingcha village located in between Ukhrul and Kamjong areas from July 21-24. Shingcha village is located about 91 km from Imphal and 55 km from Ukhrul district headquarters towards Kamjong area. This year thousands of people turned up to see the beautiful Wuyawon in its full bloom at Wuya Kachui hill range braving the seasonal down pour. The fog enveloping the flowering peak gives one a feeling of mystery. Many nature lovers thronged the peak and visitors were seen buying organic food items, indigenous handicrafts and products from the local stalls. The closing ceremony of the festival was attended by Somatai Shaiza who contested in the last assembly election at Ukhrul Assembly Constituency as the chief guest. In his speech during the event social worker and international football player Somatai said that the area has high potential to be developed as an eco-tourism centre. Such a move will generate substantial income and create maximum employment for the youth of the district, he felt. The pink orchid ginger, locally known as Shingcha Wuyawon bloom in abundance during the month of July annually. Pink Orchid Ginger is a beautiful wildflower found in Eastern Himalayas, in Assam, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Manipur and Indo-China region including Myanmar. It is characterised by deep pink flowers born in a spike at the top of the plant. It is a perennial herb with pseudostems erect, leafy. During the time of war as per the history, the villagers would return and camp at mount Wuya Kachui, and the people camping there experienced nightmare during their sleep. According to the Shingcha youth president Nganaomi Kasar, the village authority had endorsed the youth for the maintenance and development of the mountain ranges where Wuyawon flourish. The first Wuyawon promotion programme was organised on July 22 last year and was open for free expedition for the visitors to see the wonderful creation. The village youth of Shingcha took the initiative of promotion Wuyawon initiative since 2015 onward in collaboration with Ihao Facebook group at the mountain peak, through social medias and other activities.