Manipur: Mass Protests by Displaced Persons Erupt Against Sangai Tourism Festival 2025

IMPHAL- Thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from relief camps across Manipur’s Imphal Valley staged widespread sit-in protests on Thursday, vehemently opposing the state government’s decision to host the Sangai Tourism Festival 2025  at at Mapal Kangjeibung from November 21, amid ongoing ethnic strife and delays in resettlement.

The demonstrations, held at multiple relief camps and key locations including Hatta Kangjeibung – one of the festival’s main venues – saw protesters waving placards with slogans such as “Resettlement First, Then Sangai Festival,” “Free Movement First, Next Sangai Festival,” “We Want to Go Home,” and “We Are Not Beggars.” Many vowed a complete boycott of the 10-day event, scheduled to begin on November 21 and run until November 30 at venues like Hapta Kangjeibung and Bhagyachandra Open Air Theatre.

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The protests mark an escalation in opposition to the festival, which is returning after a two-year hiatus caused by ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities that erupted in May 2023. The conflict has claimed over 260 lives, displaced more than 60,000 people – predominantly from valley and hill areas – and left highways restricted, severely impacting free movement.

Organisers, backed by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a prominent Meitei civil society group, accused the administration – currently under President’s Rule – of insensitivity. “This is not a festival for the people but for the government alone,” said COCOMI convenor Khuraijam Athouba.

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“How can we celebrate when thousands remain in camps, struggling for basic necessities after two-and-a-half years?”The unrest follows a 24-hour total shutdown on November 19 called by the outlawed Kangleipak Communist Party (Military Council) (KCP-MC), which paralysed normal life in Imphal and surrounding valley districts. Markets, schools, and transport ground to a halt, with low attendance in government offices.

In response, Manipur Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel appealed for public support, emphasising that the festival is essential for economic revival, tourism promotion, youth empowerment, and rebuilding the state’s image. “While relief and rehabilitation of IDPs remain the top priority, the Sangai Festival will provide market linkages for local artisans, entrepreneurs, and farmers,” the statement read. The government has allocated around Rs 15 crore for the event, highlighting its role in fostering unity and growth.

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Security has been heightened across Imphal, with central forces conducting checks amid fears of disruptions. COCOMI has further called for a “cease-work, stay-at-home” strike on November 21, the festival’s opening day.

The Sangai Festival, named after Manipur’s endangered brow-antlered deer, is traditionally the state’s grandest cultural extravaganza, showcasing indigenous arts, sports, cuisine, and handicrafts. However, critics argue that prioritising it over rehabilitation exposes misplaced government focus in a state still grappling with deep ethnic divisions.

As tensions simmer, the coming days will test whether the festival proceeds smoothly or becomes a flashpoint for renewed agitation. Authorities remain on high alert, urging cooperation to ensure peace.