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New Indian Express
24-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Naga organisations slam radical group Arambai Tenggol for ‘hoisting' Meitei flag on Shirui peak
GUWAHATI: Meitei radical group Arambai Tenggol has ruffled the feathers of Naga organisations in Manipur's Ukhrul district by allegedly 'hoisting' the Meitei flag on the Shirui peak during the ongoing Shirui Lily festival. The Tangkhul Nagas revere the Shirui Hill, which is 97 km from the state capital, Imphal. Most major rivers in the region originate from the crevices and slopes of Shirui Peak, located at an altitude of 2,835 metres. The festival is a solemn celebration of Shirui Lily (Lilium mackliniae), which is Manipur's state flower, Tangkhul land and the enduring spirit of the community. Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla inaugurated the five-day and state government-sponsored festival on May 20. The Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) said it was an utterly 'disgraceful and despicable' attempt by Arambai Tenggol to tarnish and obfuscate the spirit and meaning of the festival for petty and dirty political gains at the wrong place and time. 'Do you even care to know that the Shirui Lily festival is a celebration dedicated to the truth of the inexplicable wonders of God's creations? That tiny, innocuous flower blossoming and blooming lusciously on a picturesque hilltop evokes so much of an aura and excitement,' said TNL president Sword Vashum said.
The Hindu
24-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Arambai Tenggol flag hoisted on Manipur's Shirui peak, Nagas angry
GUWAHATI: The Arambai Tenggol, a Meitei radical group, has angered the Nagas by allegedly hoisting its flag on the Shirui peak in Manipur's Ukhrul district during the five-day Shirui Lily Festival that ends May 25. The Tangkhul Naga community considers the 9,304 ft Shirui peak sacred as many rivers and streams originate from it. The endemic and seasonal Shirui lily (Lilium mackliniae), celebrated through an annual festival organised by Manipur Tourism, derives its name from this peak. Midway through the Shirui Lily Festival, which was inaugurated by Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on May 21, a group of people claiming to be members of the Arambai Tenggol's Cobra Team – Unit 58 put up a 'seven-coloured Meitei flag' on the peak. The Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS), an apex student body, condemned the hoisting of the flag and said it was a 'deliberate political provocation' and 'an insult' to the identity, culture, and territorial sanctity of Tangkhul Nagas. 'The Shirui Lily Festival is a solemn celebration of our rare endemic flower, our land, and the enduring spirit of the Tangkhul Naga people. To carry out this kind of symbolic aggression in sacred Tangkhul territory is a calculated attempt to disrupt peace and politicise a neutral cultural platform,' the TKS said in a statement. The organisation said any repetition of such 'reckless and inflammatory' action will not go unchallenged. 'While the Tangkhul people have traditionally welcomed all visitors to the Shirui Lily Festival with open arms, their hospitality must not be mistaken for weakness,' it added. The Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), the apex social body of the Tangkhuls, also slammed the 'utterly disgraceful and despicable attempt by the Arambai Tenggol to tarnish and obfuscate the spirit and meaning of the Shirui Lily Festival for petty and dirty political gains at the wrong place and time'. 'Do you even care to know that the Shirui Lily Festival is a celebration dedicated to the truth of the inexplicable wonders of God's creations? The tiny flower, Shirui lily, blooming on a picturesque hilltop evokes an aura and excitement, requiring us to maintain humanity's dignity,' TNL president Sword Vashum said. He said the Nagas and Meiteis, brought within the same geographical boundaries by the British rulers in 1891, do not have a common history or heritage. 'Therefore, we should settle for good neighbourliness,' he said.
India Gazette
21-05-2025
- India Gazette
Manipur Governor inaugurates 5th Shirui Lily Festival, calls for peace and growth in eco-tourism
Manipur [India], May 21 (ANI): Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla inaugurated the 5th edition of the Shirui Lily Festival 2025 at Shirui Village in Ukhrul district. At the inauguration ceremony, Governor Bhalla expressed his happiness, saying, 'I am very happy that I have come here; it's truly worth visiting this place. I am also glad that we are organising the Shirui Festival after a gap of two years. Seeing the enthusiasm and participation among the community is very encouraging. It's a very good thing for the region and the state.' The festival celebrates the rare Shirui Lily (Lilium mackliniae), found only in the Shirui Hills. The Governor described it as 'a living symbol of Manipur's ecological wealth and natural heritage.' He added, 'The state flower, Shirui Lily, is not just a pride for this Ukhrul region but for the entire state and the country.' Emphasizing the importance of eco-tourism, Governor Bhalla said, 'This is an important eco-tourism attraction that we can promote well. Of course, we need to improve infrastructure, but with a focused government approach, I am hopeful that in the coming years, this place will become a key destination on India's tourism map--and even globally.' Governor Bhalla also stressed peace and unity, urging communities to come together. 'I want to send a message that such beautiful places are not for conflicts but for harmony. Differences of opinion may exist, but they should not hinder celebrations like this. I appeal to everyone, especially people from all sides of the valley, to come together and enjoy the festival in unity. Our common people want to celebrate and enjoy these moments, and we should support that.' Marking the 75th anniversary of the Shirui Lily's discovery, the festival aims to promote sustainable tourism and environmental awareness. It brings together locals, indigenous tribes, and visitors from across India and abroad to experience the vibrant culture of the Tangkhul Nagas through traditional dance, music, handloom and handicraft exhibitions, and local cuisine. The delicate Shirui Lily blooms only in the unique microclimate of the Shirui Hills and cannot be grown elsewhere, making this region its only sanctuary. The Governor reminded all, 'For this year, our message is to bring peace back to the state. The theme is celebrating peace and harmony in diversity.' As the festival celebrates nature and culture, Governor Bhalla called upon everyone to cherish and protect Manipur's rich heritage. 'The red flower is a living symbol of Manipur's ecological wealth and natural heritage. Organised with this dual vision of promoting sustainable ecotourism and environmental awareness,' he said. The Shirui Lily Festival continues to inspire pride and environmental responsibility while fostering unity among Manipur's diverse communities. Visitors and locals alike shared their excitement about the festival's vibrant atmosphere and cultural richness. 'Our villagers have been very helpful in organising the event. We are preparing everything carefully, from welcoming guests to managing festivities. Everyone here is eager to host visitors warmly and make them feel at home,' said Soyo Wungsek, Headman of Shirui Village. 'The festival is lively and vibrant, attracting many tourists. The cultural programs and natural beauty together create a memorable experience. It's evident that the organisers have put in great effort to make this event a success,' said Anushka Karlwal, a visitor from Uttar Pradesh attending the festival. 'I'm really impressed by the hospitality and the unique charm of this place.' The Shirui Lily Festival 2025 stands as a vibrant celebration of nature, culture, and community, inspiring all to protect and preserve the unique heritage it represents. The event continues to foster unity and environmental awareness, promising a brighter and more sustainable future for generations to come.(ANI)
Indian Express
20-05-2025
- Indian Express
In conflict-scorched Manipur, Shirui Lily festival kicks off: All you need to know about the festival and the flower
The Shirui Lily festival returns to Manipur on Tuesday (May 20) after a two-year pause because of the long-drawn conflict in the state. This will be the first major tourism festival to be hosted by the state since the start of the conflict in May 2023, making safety concerns and elaborate security arrangements an integral part of the preparations this year. What is the festival, what makes the Shirui Lily special, and what are the threats both the festival and the flower are facing? The Shirui Lily Festival is organised by the Manipur government's Department of Tourism. First held in 2017, it is one of two major tourism festivals organised by the state government. While it is named after the Shirui Lily, or the Lilium mackliniae, recognised as the state flower of Manipur, the other major festival is named after the Sangai, or the Manipur brow-antlered deer, recognised as its state animal. The Shirui Lily festival coincides with the blooming season of this rare flower. Held in Manipur's Ukhrul district, which is home to the Tangkhul Naga community, the event is designed as an eco-tourism festival to raise awareness about the Shirui Lily and to promote tourism to the hills of Ukhrul. The festival includes cultural performances, music concerts, a beauty pageant, a trash collection marathon, and a cooking competition. This year, it will be held from May 20 to May 25. What is special about the Shirui Lily? The Shirui Lily is endemic to the upper reaches of the Shirui Hill range in Ukhrul district at an elevation of 2,673 m above sea level. While locals had long been familiar with the plant — calling it the 'Kashsong Timrawon' after Timrawon, the daughter of mythical goddess Philava who resides and protects the hills of Shirui — in 1946, botanist Frank Kingdon-Ward identified it and gave it its scientific name. The name, Lilium mackliniae, draws from his wife Jean Macklin's name. Over the years, this already endangered species has faced further threats to its habitat. A 2015 paper led by scientists from the ICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region, Manipur Centre, lists changing climatic conditions, human encroachment and exploitation of natural resources as factors that have 'driven the lily population to the verge of extinction.' They also observed that its habitat had been invaded by the dense root system of a wild dwarf bamboo species.' The team, led by Dr Manas Sahoo, had in 2015 transplanted 375 in vitro-generated plantlets of the Shirui Lily at Shirui hill peak as part of an effort at lab-to-land genetic micropropagation and genetic conservation of the plant. Dr Sahoo later said the plantlets had grown and bloomed and the protocol was found to be valid. What are the conditions under which the festival is being held this year? The festival is being held just a couple of weeks after the conflict in the state crossed the two-year mark. It is also being held three months into President's Rule in the state, and the organising coordinating meetings have been led by Governor Ajay Bhalla. While the state has not seen active violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities since a massive cycle of violence in November last year, and the festival is being held in 'neutral' Naga territory, there are still concerns surrounding it. Travelling from the state capital of Imphal in the Meitei-majority valley – where the bulk of festival goers have been from in past years – to the festival site requires passing through three Kuki-Zo settlements. Given that neither warring community has been able to safely move in areas dominated by the other since the start of the conflict, this will be the first such major movement of people from the valley to hill areas of the state in two years. There have been stray instances of threats against Meiteis travelling through these parts, but the Manipur police have repeatedly assured the public that they will ensure safe transit, with significant security deployment.
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Shirui Lily fest set to return after 2 years amid tight security in restive Manipur
GUWAHATI: Manipur's Shirui Lily fest is set to return Tuesday after a two-year pause, signalling efforts toward peace in a state scarred by ethnic unrest. The fest, set from May 20-24, celebrates the state flower Shirui Lily found only in Shirui Hills of Tangkhul Naga-majority Ukhrul district. The fest marks the 75th anniversary of Lilium mackliniae 's (Shirui Lily) recognition by Royal Horticultural Society London. It also serves as a litmus test for security in a region under President's rule. Roughly 2,000 security personnel have been deployed, covering six venues across four villages, with multi-layered protection along the route passing through Kuki areas. Police launched heightened security measures after Meiteis planning to attend reported online threats from accounts allegedly linked to Kuki groups.
