Imphal witnessed high tension on Thursday as security forces clashed with protesters attempting to halt preparations for the Sangai Festival 2025. The confrontation broke out after members of the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) marched towards the main festival venue at Hapta Kangjeibung, demanding a complete boycott of the government-organised event.
Chanting slogans like “We boycott Sangai Festival” and “Displaced lives matter”, the demonstrators accused the administration of prioritising a cultural celebration while thousands of internally displaced people continue to suffer due to the ongoing unrest in the state. When the group tried to force its way into the venue, police acted quickly, firing tear gas shells to push the crowd back and prevent them from entering the festival site.
Manipur has been under President’s Rule since February, and tensions between the Governor-led administration and civil society organisations continue to deepen. COCOMI and other Meitei groups have repeatedly urged citizens to oppose the festival, calling for a dawn-to-dusk shutdown across the valley on November 21. According to them, hosting a major public event without addressing the plight of displaced families is insensitive and unjustified.
Despite repeated appeals from protestors, the state government has urged residents to support the annual festival, which is scheduled to run from November 21 to 30. The Sangai Festival, organised by the tourism department, is one of Manipur’s biggest cultural exhibitions and is viewed as a crucial platform to revive tourism and present Manipur’s heritage to visitors.
With fresh clashes erupting a day before the event, uncertainty looms over the festival’s opening, even as authorities tighten security to ensure that the celebrations proceed as planned.
