The Govindaji Kang, the chariot of Govinda, was not drawn out on the streets along the Palace Gate road in Imphal on Tuesday. This year, the ‘Kang’ (Rath Yatra) festival in Manipur was celebrated low key in view of the prevailing unrest in Manipur that has persisted over 45 days.
The Kang festival was observed on Tuesday by performing only a ritual at the Govindaji Temple, Imphal. As a part of the ceremony, the priest of the Govindaji Temple offered fruits and other items to Lord Jaganath, Balabhadra and Subhadra.
Unlike before, the Govinda Kang was not drawn on the streets along the Palace Gate road. Least number of devotees were seen participating in the celebration of Kang festival at the temple.
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Speaking to the media, one of the devotees said it has been over 45 days and still there is no sign of normalcy returning to the state.
In the previous years, the festival was celebrated on a large scale and it is truly heartbreaking that the festive spirit has been completely crushed by the deaths of many people due to gunfights and clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities, she said.
“The people of Manipur are all brothers and sisters and each one of us should love each other; only then peace can be restored,” she said.
The people of the state, including herself, prayed to bring back peace and end to the violence, she added.
The festival was also toned down and celebrated in a similar manner at ISKON temple, Sangaiprou.
Meanwhile, only one ‘Kang’ with only few devotees was seen drawn along the Tiddim road.
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