Hiimai (Purul) Paoki Festival celebrated with tradition and togetherness
Source: The Sangai Express

Senapati, May 06 2026: The vibrant Paoki festival of Purul (Hiimai), marked by traditional rice transplantation and cultural festivities, was celebrated with great enthusiasm from May 5 to 6 at Purul village in Senapati district.

The inaugural function was graced by Thaithuilung Pamei, Commissioner of Agriculture, Sericulture, Horticulture and Soil Conservation, Government of Manipur, as chief guest.

Neilenthang Telien, Secretary to the Government of Manipur, attended as guest of honour, while Dr RK Radhesana Devi, Director of Planning, presided as functional president.

Observed annually in May, the three-day festival has been recognised as a State tourism event since 2017 .

Hiimai (Purul) Paoki Festival celebrated with tradition and togetherness

Known for drawing large numbers of visitors, Paoki highlights agriculture as the backbone of the village, with Purul being regarded as the first village in the area to begin paddy transplantation each year.

Organised by the Purul Youth & Students Organization (PYSO) and sponsored by the State Tourism Department, the festival showcased the rich history, unique culture and vibrant traditions of Purul, making it a prominent cultural attraction in the region.

In his welcome address, PYSO president RL Nada Redeem described the occasion as a sacred agricultural tradition symbolising the deep bond between the people and their land.

He expressed gratitude to the Tourism Department for supporting the festival and acknowledged village elders as custodians of the tradition.

He also urged participants to uphold unity, discipline and cultural pride while engaging in the activities.

Speaking on the occasion, chief guest Thaithuilung Pamei highlighted the significance of the festival as a reflection of ancestral wisdom and the enduring relationship with nature.

He encouraged the younger generation to preserve traditional practices while embracing innovation to improve agricultural productivity.

He also informed that discussions are underway to organise exposure visits for farmers to advanced agricultural regions to enhance rice cultivation techniques.

The festival featured a series of traditional activities across three days - RANAI-YU (feast preparations), THAOPAI-YU (collection of paddy saplings and traditional Naga wrestling), and KHANAI-YU (mass paddy transplantation).

The wrestling competition, an integral part of the festival, saw participation from youths of neighbouring villages.

In the competition, Veikholou of Saranamai village clinched the championship title, while Veinii Suffix of Purul Akutpa and Siih-o of Tunggam village secured the first and second runners-up positions respectively.

With over 1,000 attendees, including active participation from youth volunteers assisting in transplantation, the festival concluded on a note of unity and collective effort.

Celebrated since time immemorial, Paoki continues to promote sustainable farming practices while preserving cultural identity and strengthening community bonds.