Manipur Sangai Festival enters fifth day, lacks festive spirit amid meagre turnout

The Manipur Sangai Festival 2025 has entered its fifth day, but despite the government’s large-scale preparations, the famed annual event continues to suffer from an unexpectedly low turnout, leaving the main venue at Hapta Kangjeibung devoid of its usual festive atmosphere.

The Sangai Festival, organised by the Manipur Tourism Department from November 21 to 30 since 2010, has long been regarded as one of the state’s biggest cultural showcases. This year’s edition, revived after a two-year hiatus and held under President’s Rule, was expected to help revive tourism in the conflict-hit state. 

However, the ground reality has sharply contrasted with these expectations, as visible enthusiasm among the public remains minimal.

In previous years, the festival was a major crowd-puller. Visitors queued for hours to enter the venue, and the energy of the celebrations was felt across Imphal. This year, despite elaborate arrangements, cultural performances, traditional games, music shows, and entertainment programmes, the festival site has remained largely deserted.

The government has opened over 500 stalls for exhibitors, but most remain empty, with only a few government-sponsored stalls seeing activity. Stall owners from outside the state have expressed disappointment, saying they were unaware of the public opposition to the festival and now find themselves financially burdened.

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A stall-holder from Uttar Pradesh, who had participated in earlier editions, said that the festival in the past offered both excitement and steady earnings. This year’s situation, he said, was “disheartening and unexpected.” He added that he had spent significant amounts on travel, accommodation, and stall fees—Rs 10,000 as deposit alone—but had not earned anything even after five days. He appealed to the government to refund the stall deposit, calling the experience a loss.

Many other stall operators echoed similar concerns, and some have even shut their stalls, citing the absence of visitors and the futility of continuing operations.

The subdued atmosphere has also been compounded by growing public opposition. Residents of Thangapat in Imphal East have objected to the planned Hiyang Tanaba (boat race) scheduled for November 29 at Thangapat, calling for its cancellation as part of the wider protest against holding the festival. Local Meira Paibi groups and clubs have warned that no resident will participate if the government proceeds with the event.

Internal displaced persons (IDPs) and civil society organisations have been vocal critics of the festival, terming it ill-timed and insensitive while thousands continue to live in relief camps without resettlement. They argue that holding the Sangai Festival under such circumstances projects a misleading image of normalcy, even though a lasting resolution to the state’s humanitarian crisis remains elusive.

Despite these concerns, the government has moved ahead with the festival, hoping to reaffirm cultural identity and revive tourism. However, as the event reaches its midpoint, the starkly low attendance reflects deep public discontent and the lingering impact of the ongoing crisis in Manipur.