With almost all restrictions to curtail COVID-19 pandemic lifted now, the festive thrill of Yaoshang festival was back in Manipur and this was clearly evident with the huge crowd of buyers thronging the Khwairamband Ima market and in other shopping malls in the state capital, Imphal.
The state has been hit hard by COVID-19 pandemic that led to a standstill for longs months, and one had to give up celebration as a responsible citizen. However, with normalcy returning after much struggle and pain, it appears that the people are now ready to enjoy the colour of the five-day long Yoashang festival, which is set to begin from Friday till Tuesday.
With gifting new clothes to children from the maternal side being one of the main components of the Yaoshang festival, markets in various places, including Khwairamband Ima Market were congested. Apart from this, many shopping malls started giving heavy discounts since the past days, ahead of the festival.
(Photo: IFP)
During an interaction with a woman vendor from Malom named Longjam Subadani lauded the state government for the permit to celebrate the festival. She said that the permit to celebrate the Yaoshang festival was a highly appreciative move. "The condition of the pandemic has also improved measurably and this has eased our minds and souls that were disturbed for quite long", she says, adding that it is highly important to welcome any kind of religious festival with pomp and gaiety.
One Subadani, who is in her sixties, has been selling items at Ima Market since 1982, says that she has never witnessed such a huge crowd during the festival.
“I feel so blessed to see people coming happily to buy things for the festival after a break of a year. I have been vending in Khwairamband Ima Market since 1982 but haven’t seen so much of a crowd at the time of the festival that I have witnessed from a few days ago. This shows that people are eagerly waiting to enjoy this festival,” Subadani says.
Another vendor, Thongbram Sunita from Chanam Santrok says that though restriction on banning Ima Keithel was lifted some months ago, people hardly came to buy things. However, sales moved up with the arrival of the Yaoshang festival.
“Comparing to previous Yaoshang festivals, I can sell more this time. I think it may be because of money distributed during elections, people are spending extravagantly on this festival. Getting the opportunity to celebrate after a break could be also another very reason,” she stated, while wishing each and every one more prosperity and good health and to celebrate the festival safely.
One buyer named Sonia, who was busy buying things from Sagoltongba at Ima Market, says “Allowing the people to celebrate Yaoshang festival provides a big relief as it indicates that pandemic is under control," She also expressed her gratitude to shopkeepers for keeping the rates of commodities at normal rates like in the previous years.
Manipur is getting to celebrate Yaoshang Festival after a long break of nearly two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which is now on a decline.
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