“All these urgent concerns have been sidelined, while the government chooses to prioritise a festival that has no connection to the present suffering of the people of Manipur. If the government still refuses to change its course, it will be extremely unfortunate—and we will not turn back,” says COCOMI convenor Khuraijam Athouba.
TFM Report
Tension erupted at Hatta Kangjeibung on Wednesday, the main venue of the Sangai Festival 2025, after police fired tear gas shells to disperse protesters mobilised by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI).
The crowd, chanting slogans such as “We boycott Sangai Festival” and “Displaced lives matter,” attempted to storm the festival site in defiance of tight security arrangements.
COCOMI convenor Khuraijam Athouba, addressing the media during the protest, condemned the government’s decision to hold the festival while thousands remain displaced due to the ongoing conflict.
“They continue without any change. They do not carry the sentiment of the people nor do they understand it. This administration has repeatedly failed the people of Manipur. They have undermined the humanitarian crisis we are living through and ignored the public mood,” Athouba said.
He added that the priority of the people is not a festival but the restoration of fundamental rights, reopening of the blocked highways, and ensuring the safe return of internally displaced persons (IDPs).
“All these urgent concerns have been sidelined, while the government chooses to prioritise a festival that has no connection to the present suffering of the people of Manipur. If the government still refuses to change its course, it will be extremely unfortunate—and we will not turn back,” he added.
Security personnel acted quickly when protesters attempted to breach the barricades, deploying multiple rounds of tear gas to disperse the advancing crowd and prevent them from entering the venue.
Meanwhile, IDPs across several relief camps held silent protests against the festival. Inmates at Sajiwa Relief Camp in Imphal East staged a sit-in demonstration, expressing deep resentment over the state’s decision to proceed with the event despite the prevailing humanitarian crisis.
Similar silent protests were also held at Lamboikhongnang Makhong Relief Camp and Akampat Relief Camp.
Protestors at the relief camps reiterated their demand for the complete boycott of Sangai Festival 2025 and urged authorities to prioritise rehabilitation, resettlement and the restoration of normalcy before organising any large-scale celebrations.
The situation remains tense as civil bodies continue to oppose the festival and the government maintains preparations for its scheduled events.
The Sangai Festival, named after Manipur’s endangered brow-antlered deer, is the state’s biggest annual cultural tourism festival held from November 21 to 30.
According to Tourism department official, for Sangai festival 600 stalls altogether have installed among 600, food stalls-159, commercial stalls – 261, sponsor stalls- 15, and the department has reserved for IDP stalls but they didnt take any stalls though it was reserved for them.
First launched in 2010, the festival showcases Manipur’s rich cultural diversity, traditional arts, indigenous crafts, adventure sports, music, dance, and local cuisine. It also serves as a major platform for artisans, entrepreneurs, and performers from across the state.
The festival had been suspended for the past two years due to the ongoing unrest, making the 2025 edition significant for the government as an attempt to revive economic and cultural activities.