Bike rally adds thrill to Shirui Lily Fest
Source: The Sangai Express / Mungchan Zimik

Ukhrul, May 22 2025: The third day of the Shirui Lily Festival-2025 began with a bike rally to spread the message of peace and harmony in the State.

The day also marked the 75th anniversary of the discovery of the Shirui Lily (Kashong Timrawon) by British botanist Frank Kingdon Ward in 1946.The celebration was held in different venues, including Ukhrul headquarters ground, Bakshi ground, Vangayan, Jorcheng, and Phangrei.

Local artist Diana Wungsek paid a befitting tribute to the Shirui Lily flower, while the Shirui Lily Grand Prix (downhill wooden cart race) at Vangayan ground thrilled the visiting tourists.

Renowned Tangkhul artists Shimreingam Horam, Haoyaola Kashung and Yuleichan Mahongnao also entertained the crowd with Tangkhul songs.

In a separate event, the Hao Riders of Ukhrul town held a bike rally at 9 am to promote peace and harmony in the State.

The rally which was flagged off from Bakshi ground, rode across Ukhrul town, and later converged at TK Woodland.

Prior to the rally, Chihan Leisan, secretary of Hao Riders, stated that the bike rally's primary objective was to promote a peaceful atmosphere in the state.

"As bikers, there's no boundary for adventure and we need peace for adventure and tourism," he said.

The bike rally was held under the banner "Let peace bloom like Shirui Lily" .

The Shirui Lily Riders Meet, on the other hand, was participated by various groups, including Royal Brothers Senapati, Ememei Riders Senapati, Zeliro Venturez, Royal Motors Manipur, Free Soul Riders Tripura, Goa MC 2, Rebel's Rider Karbi Anglong, Iron Horse Kolkata, Native Throttlers, Keishal The Wolves Tribe and Hao Riders, Ukhrul among others.

Shirui Lily Festival celebrates this rare and endangered State flower of Manipur.

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) had awarded the Shirui Lily (Lilium mackliniae) a prestigious merit award at its London Flower Show in 1950, recognizing its botanical significance.

The lily was named after Jean Macklin, wife of botanist Dr Frank Kingdon Ward, who first discovered it in 1946.Meanwhile, the Shirui Youth appealed to the visitors of the festival to be responsible tourists visiting the abode of lilies.

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