“Celebration of the Kang festival in our state begins on the second day of ‘Engen’ month of Manipuri lunar calendar and ends on the tenth day of the same month,” said N Biren in his message. In Hindu customs, it is believed that anyone who pulls the rope linked to the chariots of the deities and helps others also in doing so or merely touches the rope of chariots, gets the merit of several penances, it said.

“I join the people of Manipur in the celebration of Kang and pray to Lord Jagannath to shower His believers with spiritual merit and final liberation,” it added.

Works minister Th Biswajit Singh has also extended his wish to the people of the state.  In his message,  the minister stated that Kang or Rath Yatra, which is observed to celebrate Lord Jagannath’s  destruction of evil from the face of earth, begins on the second day of Ingen (Manipur lunar calendar) and is celebrated for nine days.  It ends with the celebration of Kanglen on the 10th day of the lunar month, it said.

Let this festival also inspire the people in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. “Let us once again pledge to follow the necessary precautions like physical distancing, use of face masks and frequent washing to contain the pandemic,” it said.  

“I pray to Lord Jagannath to bless the state and its people. I once again wish the people a happy and auspicious Kang,” it added.