States » EastPosted at: Jul 3 2025 11:40AM


Kang, a celebration of faith, art, and resilience in Manipur

Imphal, July 3 (UNI) The Vaishnavite culture in Manipur reaches its zenith during the vibrant festivals of Yaoshang (Holi) and Kang (Ratha Yatra). These occasions witness the most exquisite expressions of Manipuri classical dance, music, cuisine, and traditional attire — each blossoming in its radiant form.
Kang, the Manipuri Ratha Yatra, is celebrated over nine to ten days — from the auspicious day of Ratha Yatra to Purna Yatra — culminating in a special observance known as Ningol Pali, a day or two of solemn responsibility borne by the women, who take charge of the financial and ritualistic aspects of the festivities.
Though the exact origin of the Kang celebration remains cloaked in time, local tradition holds that it gained prominence after the Seven Years Devastation (1819–1826), a tragic period during which Manipur was conquered by erstwhile Burma.
It was during their exile that Prince Gambhir Singh and Prince Narsingh, who would later ascend the throne, witnessed the grandeur of Ratha Yatra in other parts of India. Inspired and spiritually moved, they brought the festival home, embedding it into the heart of Manipuri tradition.
According to Manipur chronicles and history written by eminent historian N. Khelchandra, it was the 54th King of Manipur, Bhagyachandra, who introduced the worship of Lord Krishna by constructing the Shri Shri Govindajee Temple in the early 18th century.
A century later, his grandson, King Gambhir Singh, installed the idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra at the same sacred temple further cementing the Vaishnavite ethos in the cultural tapestry of Manipur.
The sacred chariot-pulling ritual that marks the beginning of Kang begins at the Shri Shri Govindajee Temple, once attended by the monarch himself and now by the heads of state. It is a ceremony drenched in reverence, music, and tradition.
The formal presentation of classical Manipuri song during Kang was institutionalized under the guidance of Prof. N. Tombi Singh, then Education Minister (1967-69), at the Shri Jagannath temple in Uripok Ahanthem Leikai, Imphal. As documented in the 1972 book 'Kang' by Sur Mandal, renowned classical musicians Ojha Gulapi and Thongam Gopal taught devotional songs along with Prof N Tombi Singh which continue to be sung with devotion and grace.
According to Shijagurumayum Umananda, a temple caretaker, even the most complex preparations—from the intricate pulling of the chariot to the soul-stirring musical renditions — are performed with effortless precision, for the tradition lives in the hearts of the people.
Across the state, every locality celebrates Kang with classical performances, culminating in the sacred offering of khichri (rice and lentils) and other traditional delicacies. Men and women, clad in elegant white religious attire, participate with pure devotion, embodying the spirit of unity and faith.
After being suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the unrest in 2023 and 2024, the festival returned in full bloom this year. Devotees flocked to the temples, singing praises of Lord Jagannath, their voices rising in joyous harmony. The Chali, the foundational steps of Manipuri classical dance, are performed at the outset to invite participation from all — an embodiment of inclusivity and shared celebration.
Yet, amidst the joyous echoes of the 'pung' (Manipuri percussion) and song, one could also hear a note of sorrow. In a temple in Thoubal district, a grieving father mourns his daughter, Nganthoi, a devoted Air India crew member who perished in a tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad. She had planned her leave to coincide with Kang, having invited friends to partake in the festival at their home temple—a dream now forever unfulfilled.
As the sun dips, the air fills with devotional hymns — the Dasavatara of Jayadeva, traditional Kang songs, and the rhythm of faith. Prasads of khichri are distributed with love and reverence. One devotee remarked that this year’s celebration has become a balm for the soul, a release from the frustration of being confined within a state beset by blockades as people belonging to a particular community could not go out of the state using the highways since May 3, 2023 , internet shutdowns, and relentless news of conflict.
For over 60,000 displaced people, however, the festival passed in silence. Forced to live in makeshift relief camps without adequate food, water, or sanitation, many from Churachandpur district spoke of a past turned to ashes—homes, temples, churches, and centuries-old heritage reduced to rubble. Yet, one woman in the camp expressed herself with a glimmer of hope, “We believe that one day, we will return, rebuild our houses, our places of worship, and begin anew.”
Indeed, as the old proverb says, “Hope is the physician of every misery.” And Kang, in all its glory and grief, stands not just as a festival of devotion, but as a living testament to the enduring spirit of the Manipuri people.
UNI NS PRS
Tags: #Kang# a celebration of faith# art# and resilience in Manipur
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