IMPHAL, July 6: A nine-day celebration of Kang (Rath Jatra) festival began with pomp and gaiety in Manipur on Wednesday. The main events of the festival included pulling of Kang- the traditional chariot and offering of flowers and fruits to Shree Shree Jagannath.
The pulling of Kang was accompanied by a band party held at Shree Shree Govindajee temple complex here. A large number of devotees turned up in their traditional festival attires at the Palace Gate and temple to take part in the festival despite a downpour.
ISKCON temple authority also celebrated the festival by pulling a mini Kang along the Airport Road.
Besides, Hindu community from different localities of the State also celebrated Kang Chingba festival by holding religious rituals in the evenings at mandaps and community halls. The festival, which would conclude on July 14, would also witness daily community feasts.
Coinciding with the Kang Chingba festival, the Muslim community in the State also celebrated the Id-Ul-Fitre festival on Wednesday. The community programmes were also organized in connection with the festival in the state.
Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh accompanied by community leaders, attended the prayer session of the festival in the morning, while Lok Sabha MP and in charge of Manipur BJP Prahlad Singh Patel along with state BJP leaders took part in the Kang Chingba in the noon.
