Why Shirui Lily festival holds key to bridging communal divide in strife-torn Manipur

The five-day Shirui Lily festival, one of Manipur’s biggest cultural events, commencing on May 20 could both be a security challenge as well as an opportunity for bridging the communal divide in the trouble-torn state.

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The festival, organised by the state’s tourism department, is being held after a two-year break on account of the ethnic strife raging in the state since May 2023. The venue of the festival is the Naga-dominated Ukhrul district.

Major security concern

Participants from the majority Meitei community, inhabiting the valley areas of the state, will have to travel 80 km from Imphal through three major Kuki-Zo-dominated pockets to reach the venue.

This factor has posed a major security concern even as a group of Kuki village chiefs, in a positive gesture towards fostering peace and harmony, assured cooperation for the smooth conduct of the festival.

Since the conflict erupted, Meiteis cannot venture into the Kuki-Zo areas and the latter into Meitei areas because of security concerns.

The Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), the apex body of the Tangkhul Naga community, last week held a “productive meeting” with the chiefs of Kuki villages situated along the route.

Ukhrul district is predominantly a Tangkhul Naga area. Hence, the TNL is an important stakeholder in the festival.

Kuki villages vow support

“The Kuki village chiefs pledged their complete cooperation and support for the TNL in the run-up to and during the Shirui Lily Festival 2025. They assured that there would be no disturbances, enabling a festive atmosphere where all attendees can enjoy the celebration in peace,” the TNL said in a statement.

“The discussion focused on ensuring cooperation and harmony between the communities involved in the festival’s celebrations,” the statement added.

Welcoming the decision of the Kuki village chiefs, Indigenous People’s Forum Manipur president Ashang Kasar said their cooperation could foster peace and communal harmony. However, at the same time, he expressed concern that some “vested-interest” groups and individuals are trying to undermine the peace efforts.

“Fictitious and little-known Kuki bodies like the Kuki-Zo Village Volunteers-Eastern Zone and Kuki Zoland Protection Command and a few individuals have issued veiled threats and warnings to the Meiteis not to attend the festival. This has created some sense of insecurity,” Kasar said in a letter to Manipur DGP Rajiv Singh on Monday (May 19).

Security stepped up

He urged the DGP to make adequate security arrangements for “those tourists who would be visiting the venue of the grand festival from Imphal.”

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Security has been beefed up along the Imphal-Ukhrul route by deploying personnel from both central and state security forces on sensitive points along the route, Manipur police said on Monday.

Identity verifications, regular patrolling and surveillance have been ramped up, said a senior police official. The DGP himself is regularly reviewing the security preparedness, the official added.

Tangkhul community has also deployed its volunteers to help the civil administration in ensuring the safety of tourists travelling from Imphal. A large number of tourists from across India and abroad travelled to Ukhrul to take part in the last edition of the festival held in 2022. International music bands like Nazareth and Extreme also performed in the past editions.

Five-day extravaganza

“This year’s festival promises a vibrant five-day extravaganza featuring traditional and cultural performances, including live music, folk dances, indigenous games like the Shirui Lily Grand Prix, art and craft exhibitions, and culinary delights showcasing local ethnic cuisine,” Manipur tourism department said in a communique.

“Adventure enthusiasts can participate in activities like camping and biking, while the popular SHIROCK music festival will showcase a wide array of performances—from pulsating rock and metal to energetic pop, hip hop, and electronic music.”

The festival celebrates the iconic state flower of Manipur and is a vital initiative of Manipur Tourism aimed at “fostering sustainable and responsible tourism across the state.” The event also serves to raise awareness about the endangered Shirui Lily, a unique botanical treasure found exclusively in Manipur’s Shirui Hills.

The festival’s return after a two-year hiatus is met with renewed enthusiasm and a deeper focus on ecological conservation and cultural pride, the department said.

Kuki outfit's threat

This year’s festival, however, is not without its share of controversy. The Manipur police have registered an FIR against the Kuki Students' Organisation-Delhi (KSO-D) president Paojakhup Guite for allegedly threatening Meitei people against crossing the “buffer zone” to attend the festival.

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An influential Kuki tribal body, the Kuki Inpi viewed the police action as “partial, discriminatory, and deeply biased against the Kuki-Zo people, whose voices and legitimate concerns continue to be marginalised amidst the ongoing ethnic crisis in Manipur.”