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Shirui Lily Festival
Manipur’s flower festival starts on thorny note
Context: The Shirui Lily Festival, named after the endemic Shirui Lily flower, began in Ukhrul district of Manipur on May 20, 2025, after a two-year hiatus due to ethnic violence between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities.
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- The return of the Shirui Lily Festival, a five-day cultural celebration, was meant to symbolise a fragile peace in the conflict-ravaged state.
- The 2025 edition, running from May 20-24, marks the 75th anniversary of the Shirui Lily’s discovery, making it a special occasion for both tourism and conservation efforts.
About Ukhrul District
- Located around 83 km east of Imphal, Ukhrul district is Manipur’s highest hill station and home to the Tangkhul Naga tribe, known for their vibrant culture and warm hospitality.
- Ukhrul’s rolling green hills, mist-covered valleys, and ancient traditions make it a haven for both eco-tourists and cultural explorers.
Key Attractions Around Ukhrul:
- Shirui Hills: Standing at 8,500 feet, the hills are the only natural habitat of the Shirui Lily, which blooms from April to June, painting the landscape in shades of pink and white.
- Khangkhui Lime Caves: These prehistoric limestone caves reveal evidence of Stone Age habitation, attracting archaeologists and curious travelers alike.
- Longpi Village: Famous for its black pottery made from a unique blend of serpentine stone and clay, Longpi is a must-visit for lovers of traditional crafts.
What is the Shirui Lily Festival?
- Organised by: Manipur government’s Department of Tourism.
- First held: 2017.
- Type of festival: Eco-tourism and cultural festival.
- Location: Ukhrul district, home to the Tangkhul Naga community.
- Purpose: Raise awareness about the Shirui Lily (Manipur’s state flower) and promote tourism in the Ukhrul hills.
- Events included: Cultural performances, music concerts, beauty pageant, trash collection marathon, cooking competition.
- Timing: Coincides with the blooming season of the Shirui Lily; this year from May 20 to May 25.
- Related festival: Manipur also hosts a major tourism festival named after the Sangai (Manipur’s state animal).
What makes Shirui Lily special?
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- Scientific name: Lilium mackliniae (named after botanist Frank Kingdon-Ward’s wife, Jean Macklin).
- Endemic location: Upper Shirui Hill range in Ukhrul district at 2,673 meters above sea level.
- Local name: ‘Kashsong Timrawon,’ linked to local mythology (daughter of goddess Philava who protects the hills).
- Discovery: Identified scientifically in 1946 by Frank Kingdon-Ward.
- Conservation status: Endangered species, threatened by:
- Changing climatic conditions.
- Human encroachment and exploitation of natural resources.
- Invasion of habitat by dense roots of wild dwarf bamboo.
- Conservation efforts: In 2015, 375 lab-grown plantlets were transplanted on Shirui Hill Peak under a genetic micropropagation project led by Dr Manas Sahoo. The plantlets successfully grew and bloomed, validating the conservation protocol.
Current Conditions and Security Concerns (2025)
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- Background Conflict: Ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities since May 2023.
- Recent Developments
- Festival held under President’s Rule.
- Governor Ajay Bhalla leading coordination.
- Festival site is in neutral Naga territory, but travel from Imphal (Meitei-majority area) involves crossing Kuki-Zo settlements.
- Risks & Challenges:
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- The first major movement of Meiteis into hill areas in two years.
- Stray threats were reported against Meiteis travelling through Kuki areas.
- Heavy security deployment promised by Manipur Police to ensure safe transit.
Symbolic Importance of the 2025 Festival
- The return of the Shirui Lily Festival marks more than the blooming of a flower; it symbolises an attempt to reclaim shared spaces, foster healing, and rebuild public trust. However, its success is precarious, contingent on both the absence of violence and the presence of goodwill among divided communities.
- The Shirui Lily itself — fragile, rare, and under threat — serves as a poignant metaphor for the state it represents. Like the flower, peace in Manipur is delicate and must be carefully nurtured, protected, and allowed to grow in the right conditions.
- As the festival unfolds in the days ahead, it will serve not just as a celebration of nature, but as a litmus test for the possibility of renewed harmony in one of India’s most troubled states.
