Missed: Shirui Lily festival
Source: The Sangai Express / Mungchan Zimik

Ukhrul, May 31 2023: Shirui Lily festival is celebrated during May when the flower is in bloom to spread the message of peace, love, harmony and to preserve the beauty of nature.

However, this year the flower has bid adieu.

Shirui Kashong, the abode of the famed Shirui lily wore a deserted look this time around.

This year the Shirui Lily festival was deferred as the State has been hit with spates of violence.

But the flower continues to bloom in isolation and withers away with none to witness its beauty.

Shirui Lily is a wild flower popularly known as 'Kashung Timrawon' in Tangkhul.

The mountain range of Shirui Kashung, the only habitat of the unique lily, comprises a range of four hills namely, Shongshang, Sarumkateng and the twin hills called Shongrei which are the highest peaks among them.

It is a seasonal flower that blooms in between the middle of May and first week of June.

The flower is light pinkish in colour, belongs to the liliane family and is distributed in the damp alpine areas of Shirui peak.

The Manipur State Government in 2017 declared the peak blooming season of the lily as Shirui Lily festival.

The 4-day festival was organised by Manipur State Tourism Department with an objective to promote communal harmony of all communities living in Manipur through an exposition of their traditional and cultural shows, international rock, beauty pageant, rock contest, food fiesta, camping programme and many more to attract more tourists in order to boost the economy.

This year Shirui Lily festival was scheduled to be held from May 17 to 20 at three different venues.

The people of Manipur, especially the Tangkhuls, were filled with excitement to share the joy of the festival.

However, the aftermath of the violence which erupted on May 3 has shattered the dreams and plans of the people and left them yearning for restoration of peace and normalcy in the State.

Yaoreikan, president of Shirui Youth informed that around 1000 local persons visited Shirui peak this year, whereas in 2022 it recorded more than 20000 persons including international tourists who came to see the blooming of Shirui Lily.

According to him, the main reason for the massive decline of visitors was deferment of the festival.

It might be mentioned that last year Shirui Lily festival 2022 footfall recorded for the 4-day festival numbered around 2.19 lakh tourists and generated a revenue of about Rs 14.36 crore with an investment of just Rs 4.5 crore.

In previous years, people living in the State celebrated the Shirui Lily festival with pomp and gaiety without any discrimination.

People from different areas and communities sat together, chatted and shared in the joy of the festival.

Shirui Lily, in her loud and clear message urges every citizen, reminds them that she welcomes each and every one to attend her festival and promote peace and harmony for peaceful co-existence of all communities in the State.

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