SOPs clouted for a big six at many places during Yaoshang festival
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 01 2021: Even though the State Government released specific SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) to control possible Covid infection surge during the Yaoshang (Holi), the guidelines went kaput as young and old celebrated the festival without the slightest apprehension of COVID-19 .

Very few people were seen wearing face masks and even though there was a ban on monetary subscription (Yaoshang Pheemunba), in many parts of the valley districts, girls flocked on the roads stopping vehicles with ropes as obstacles and asking for money.

There were however no Thabal Chongba and Shumang Leela during the festival.

Notably, in view of the emerging second wave of Covid in some States and Yaoshang festival, the State Government had banned Thabal Chongba and Shumang Leela.

In addition, large gatherings of people were banned and people were advised to follow the Covid Appropriate Behaviours.

Besides banning all forms of contact sports, the Government had also banned people applying colours on others, known or unknown to restrict physical contact, which may spread Covid.

SOPs clouted for a big six at many places during Yaoshang festival

When all these bans and guidelines were in place, people, especially teens and children were found flouting the rules.

If one goes from Imphal to Kakching district or other places via Mayai Lambi road, one would witness flocks of girls stopping vehicles for monetary subscription.

This activity is largely seen in the interiors of the localities.

Boys and children in groups were seen applying colours to girls and vice versa.

Most of them were seen without face masks.

They immediately disperse when police patrol come only to return later when the police leave.

When these were the worrying scenes witnessed amid the rising concern for a possible outbreak of the second wave of COVID-19, the festival had also witnessed some encouraging activities like Yaoshang sports meets, which promote extracurricular activities, health and physical wellbeing.

Almost every locality organised their own Yaoshang sports meet encouraging active participation of youths and children in various competitive physical activities like marathon, race, blind hitting and many more.

When these sports meets were aimed at diverting the attention of the youths and children towards sports activities, whether the events and the people followed COVID-19 SOPs is debatable. A person who was part of organising a Yaoshang sports meet said the local club took up all necessary preparations and precautions to adhere to the Government COVID-19 SOPs.

While stating that the club did not include tug of war, football and other contact sports following the Government guidelines, he however said that the organisers could do little to restrict the size of the spectators.

"As organisers, we tried to restrict the size of the audience but we couldn't as they are all locals.

On the other hand, we are part of one big safety bubble.

The number of outsiders at the events are minimal," he said.

Talking about the size of the people who gathered to watch the sports events, he noted that the "size of the audience witnessing the games are minuscule when compared to the size of people at Khwairamband Keithel.

"When the size of the people at Yaoshang sports and various activities during the festival are a matter of concern amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it is minuscule when compared to the size and the number of people at Khwairamband Keithel.

In the wake of a possible second wave of Covid, the chance of Khwairamband or other markets becoming super spreaders is tremendously higher than Yaoshang sports becoming super spreader events.

If the Government is concerned about a possible outbreak of a second wave, then it should consider taking up early measures to restrict the size of people and vendors in the markets," he said.

When talking about the tradition of girls asking for monetary subscription during the festival, he noted that while this activity is highly active in some places, the youngsters are slowly turning towards participating in the sports events under the advice of their parents and guardians.

Notably, the instances or the sheer number of girls flocking roads for monetary subscriptions have reduced considerably this year due to Government restrictions amid the pandemic.

Some of the places in the valley districts saw no girls coming out on roads for monetary subscription from vehicles.