Why Manipur’s Shirui Lily Festival has turned into a flashpoint over identity

The Shirui Lily Festival in Manipur, a celebration of peace and cultural unity, has become a flashpoint of identity following an incident on May 20 that triggered political backlash, media protests, and renewed ethnic tensions.

According to India Today NE report, the controversy erupted after a Manipur State Transport (MST) bus carrying journalists to cover the festival was stopped at the Gwaltabi checkpoint by personnel from the 4th Mahar Regiment.

The security forces allegedly instructed the media team to cover the words “Manipur State Transport” on the bus’s windshield with white paper, an act perceived as a deliberate attempt to erase the state’s identity, added the report.

The 5th Shirui Lily Festival, which was held from May 20 to 24 in Ukhrul, returned after a two-year hiatus due to ethnic tensions.

The controversial order triggered widespread outrage among the Meitei community, who regard the state’s name as a vital emblem of their identity and historical pride. The incident forced the media team to abandon their assignment and return to Imphal, further fueling resentment.

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According to the report, the directive was particularly jarring given the Union Government’s previous acknowledgment of Manipur’s legacy — most notably in 2021, when Home Minister Amit Shah renamed Mount Harriet in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to Mount Manipur, in tribute to the state’s role in the 1891 resistance against British colonial rule.

The removal of the state’s name from the vehicle was widely condemned as a direct insult to Manipur’s dignity, and what ensued was a wave of public outrage, mass protests, and shutdowns that reignited simmering tensions over identity, autonomy, and the role of security forces in the conflict-ridden state.

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The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a prominent Meitei civil society group, called a 48-hour general strike starting midnight on May 21. The shutdown brought the Imphal Valley to a standstill, with businesses, schools, and public transport closed, except for emergency medical services and travel to the festival.

The All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union and Editors’ Guild Manipur also launched a pen-down protest, demanding a full investigation and accountability for the incident.

COCOMI accused the Mahar Regiment of attempting to undermine the state’s authority and called for the resignation of key officials, including the security advisor, the director general of police, and the chief secretary. They also demanded a formal apology from Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla.

Several other civil society groups echoed these concerns, questioning how such a directive could be issued and enforced within Manipur’s own territory, further intensifying the debate over the state’s autonomy, dignity, and internal cohesion.

The controversy also intensified existing tensions between the Meitei and Kuki communities, particularly since the ethnic conflict in May 2023.

The road to the festival passes through a buffer zone and some Kuki villages, which has heightened concerns about safety and access. Kuki civil society organisations have previously warned Meiteis against crossing the buffer zone, citing it as a “direct challenge” to their community and jurisdiction .

The incident has overshadowed the festival’s intended purpose of promoting peace and cultural unity.

Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, who inaugurated the festival, faced criticism for continuing with the event amid the controversy. On Monday, Governor Bhalla was airlifted in an Army helicopter on to avoid major protests on his way from Imphal airport to Raj Bhawan, just six kilometers away.

The protests, led by COCOMI, saw hundreds of people forming a human chain on Tiddim Road to oppose the removal of the state’s name from a government bus.

The protest stretched about 5.5 km from Imphal airport to Keishampat Junction, with many students taking part.

Governor Bhalla, who had flown to New Delhi on May 21 with Chief Secretary PK Singh, returned to Imphal today. The reason for his visit to the capital has not been made public.

In response to the public outcry, the state administration has now formed a two-member committee to investigate the incident.

The committee, comprising Home Commissioner N Ashok Kumar and IT Secretary Th Kirankumar Singh, has been tasked with submitting its findings within 15 days and recommending preventive measures to avoid such occurrences in the future, reported Times of India.

As the investigation unfolds, the incident continues to fuel debates over Manipur’s identity, governance, and the delicate balance between security measures and cultural sensitivities.

With inputs from agencies