COPMeV against holding Sangai Fest
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 29 2025: A committee formed by people who have been displaced from Moreh has urged all internally displaced persons to boycott the Manipur Sangai Festival.

In a strongly worded statement, issued to the media, the Committee on Protection of Meetei Victims, Moreh (COPMeV), said the Government gearing up to celebrate the festival when people in thousands are languishing in relief camps reflects its indifference to the suffering of the internally displaced people.

Peace has not yet returned to Manipur, and the internally displaced people are still unable to go back to their own villages and homes.

The IDPs are suffering daily in relief camps and they are in no mood to celebrate.

The time simply is not right to celebrate the Sangai Festival, said the committee.

If the Government proceeds with the festival despite the opposition, it would mean the Sangai Festival is more valuable than the lives and wellbeing of the internally displaced people, asserted the committee.

The 12th edition of the Manipur Sangai Festival is set to make a comeback in November this year after it was suspended following the May 3, 2023 conflict between Meitei and Kuki community.

The festival promoting the State animal, Sangai and tourism has been scheduled to be held from November 21 to 30.Meanwhile, COPMeV said that the festival must be held once normalcy and peace is restored completely.

COPMeV reminded the Government, that the conflict that broke out on May 3, 2023 has killed more than 200 people, burnt hundreds of houses and displaced thousands of people.

Thousands of people who have been driven out of their villages from Moreh, Kangpokpi and Churachandpur and other places are still languishing in relief camps.

Affected physically and mentally traumatised, the number of suicide cases among the IDPs has increased, the committee said.

Amid such suffering of the people, the Government planning to celebrate the Sangai Festival is objectionable.

The IDPs can't agree to the Government organising the festival, it said.

Until peace is restored fully, no State level festivals must be organised, it added.

While the Central Government had assured to open the Highways and allow free movement of all citizens, it has not materialised yet, said the committee.

Further, the Government has assured to allow the IDPs staying in relief camps to return to and resettle in their original villages by December 2025.However, no concrete steps are seen taken up to effect this, and the Government has not yet produced a policy to resettle IDPs from Moreh, Churachandpur and Kangpokpi, it added.

The IDPs can't agree with the Government organising the Sangai Festival aimed at protecting Sangais when IDPs are kept ignored, the committee said, asking "Are the Sangais more valuable than the lives of the IDPs?" .

"The Government must first protect and save its people.

The significance of the Sangai will be lost if there are no people," COPMeV said.

It appealed to all the IDPs not to participate in the festival, and urged the Government to cancel it.

The committee and the displaced people of Moreh will not allow the Government to organise the festival, it said.

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