Five-day ‘Yaoshang’ festival begins in Manipur

Our Correspondent
mphal, March 9 (EMN): A five-day ‘Yaoshang,’ a spring festival celebrated in Manipur, starting on the full moon day of the month of Lamda (February–March), kicked off here on Monday.

The festival celebrates the victory of good over evil and also the triumph of devotion.

Yaosang is indigenous traditions of the Meitei people. It is considered the most important festival in Manipur. Like Holi, people play with colours on the occasion.

On the first day of the festival, children collect money from the neighbouring houses.

Members of local clubs thronged the historic Kangla Fort to collect the sacred fire for their torch rallies for sports meet at their respective localities to be held as part of the festival.

Meanwhile, Manipur Governor Dr. Najma Heptulla, Chief Minister N Biren Singh, Speaker Yumnam Khemchand, , former chief minister and Opposition leader O Ibobi, and legislators conveyed greetings to the people of Manipur on the occasion of Yaoshang festival.

The media houses in Imphal have also announced five-day holiday on account of the festival.

The All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union is also organising five-day sports meet.