Mnp Sangai Festival culminates amid protests, boycott

Amid boycotts and protests, the Manipur Sangai Festival, held after a two-year hiatus due to the ethnic crisis, came to a close on Sunday with a record abysmally low turnout.
Governor Ajay Kumar who graced the closing ceremony of the festival held at Bhagyachandra Open Air Theatre (BOAT), Imphal on Sunday evening, said that the 10-day tourism festival concluded “on a note of unity and cultural pride despite the challenges faced.”
The festival celebrated the spirit of the state as the ‘Festival of Oneness,’ bringing together its rich indigenous heritage through dance, music, crafts, and traditional sports, the Governor said, in his address on the occasion.
He highlighted the state government’s continued focus on strengthening Manipur’s tourism potential through strategic promotion and major infrastructure projects.
He noted that the edition of the festival served as an important outreach platform, bringing together tourism stakeholders from across the country and abroad. The Governor further highlighted that the festival’s diverse activities, from the Sangai Film Festival to the traditional sports events, demonstrated the vibrancy of Manipuri arts, sports, and community spirit.
He expressed gratitude to the various departments and the people of Manipur for their cooperation, stating that their collective efforts ensured the smooth conduct of the festival and reaffirmed its message of unity and resilience.
Unlike the opening event, no MLA attended the closing event. At least two MLAs had attended the opening event held on November 21.
State chief secretary, security advisor, state advocate general, GOC 3 corps, senior state government officials, civil, police and military officers were among others who attended the event. Meanwhile, police foiled IDPs’ bid to storm Imphal Raj Bhavan as there was no let-up in protest even on the last day of the 10-day Manipur Sangai Festival.
Dozens of IDPs languishing at various relief camps in Imphal on Sunday staged a protest in front of Kangla fort in the heart of Imphal city today before marching toward the Raj Bhavan, around 200 meters from the protest site.
IDPs from Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Imphal West, and Imphal East districts, who are languishing at different relief camps after ethnic violence broke out in May 2023 took part in the protest.
While raising slogans boycotting the ongoing tourism festival, the protester demanded that the IDPs be allowed to return to their homes if the government feels peace and normalcy returned in the state.
“Displaced lives matter”, “Rights first tourism later”, “Ensure our fundamental rights”, “Manipur people boycott Sangai festival 2025”, etc. placards displayed by the protesters read.
After a brief demonstration in front of the Kangla fort, the IDPs tried to march toward the Raj Bhavan. However, a strong police team stopped them and pushed back toward the Uripok side, where the protest continued.
Unlike the previous protests in which the protesters clashed with the police, no untoward incident was reported while pushing back protesters.
Sunday’s protest was driven by growing frustration among the displaced families as claimed by a woman IDP who talked to the reporters on the sideline of the protest.
She said, “By holding the Sangai Festival, the government is trying to project peace and normalcy has returned to the state, ignoring the plights of the displaced people.”
“Why are we not allowed to go back to our original home if peace is actually restored. “We are ready to launch intense forms of protests in the coming days if no step to resettle us in our villages is taken up by the government at the earliest,” she added.