Shirui Lily Festival ends with call for sustainable tourism

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• Trekkers returning from Shirui Kashong (peak) on the last day of the festival at Shirui in Ukhrul district. (EM Images)

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• UKHRUL — Amid inclement weather and a partial shutdown in parts of Manipur, the five-day Shirui Lily Festival 2025 concluded successfully on Saturday at various locations in Ukhrul district.
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• Organised by the Manipur Tourism department, the festival commenced on May 20 and featured a wide range of outdoor activities and cultural events.
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• It aimed to celebrate the region’s natural beauty and heritage while promoting sustainable tourism and raising awareness about the Shirui Lily (locally known as Kashong Timrawon), a rare flower found only at Shirui Kashong Peak in Ukhrul.
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• This year marked the fifth edition of the festival, held after a two-year hiatus due to ongoing conflict in Manipur.

Visitors at Shirui with the Shirui Kashong Peak in the backdrop. (EM Images)

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• One of the main highlights of the festival was trekking to Shirui Kashong Peak, located about 2,986 metres above sea level.
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• According to members of the Shirui Youth Club, who managed registrations, around 6,000 people signed up to trek by the third day, with over 3,000 more estimated to have joined on the final day.
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• Environmental concerns also took centre stage during the festival. Organisers highlighted the decline of the Shirui Lily population due to deforestation and climate change.
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• The flower, now considered endangered, is a vital symbol of Manipur’s ecological identity.
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• “Blooming only in these hills and nowhere else in the world is a powerful symbol of uniqueness, resilience and grace. And in many ways, it reflects the soul of Manipur itself,” Suman Billa, Director General Ministry of Tourism, said addressing the closing ceremony of the festival at Ukhrul.
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• He called for investing in sustainable tourism infrastructure that enhances, not damages, the delicate ecosystem.
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• The director expressed hopes that tourism can be a bridge between communities and regions, between Northeast and the rest of India, and between India and the world.
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• He called for working together to chart a roadmap to place Ukhrul and Shirui on the global tourism map as a model for sustainable, community-led, and peaceful tourism.

Also read: Esme S Shaiza is Miss Shirui Lily 2025