One of the mega festivals of Hindu community of the state, Kanglen which is celebrated as a culmination of the Kang festival (Rath Yatra) that began on June 1, concluded at Govindajee temple on Saturday.
Notably, Chief Minister N Biren Singh and many other ministers were absent at Govindajee Kang Chingba on Saturday probably as a mark of respect to former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe who was assassinated yesterday combined with another tragedy of human casualties in the Tipaimukh Road landslide.
National flags were flying half-mast at government offices as a mark of respect to Shinzo Abe.
Chief Minister Biren and Rajya Sabha MP Maharaja Leishemba Sanajaoba also missed the inaugural Kang Chingba at Govindajee temple on July 1 due to the devastating landslide at Tupul on June 30.
However, he offered prayers at Govindajee temple in the morning before embarking on a journey to the site of the Tupul landslide which had seen 50 dead bodies recovered so far.
On the other hand, Forest Minister Th Bishwajit and Patsoi MLA Sapam Kunjakeshore @ Keba was present at ISKCON Kang celebrations on July 1.
Today, Works Minister Govindas Konthoujam was present at ISKCON Kang celebration.Today, Manipur Fire Service personnel sprayed water on the path of the Govindajee Kang at Palace Compound to reduce the scorching heat for devotees as they pulled the Kang.
After performing a ritual ceremony at Govindajee Temple, the deities Jaganath, Balabhadra and Subhadra were taken out to the streets for ‘Kang chingba’ (pulling of chariots by the devotees).
The festival usually starts from the second day of the fourth lunar calendar of ‘Engen’ and continues till the 10th of the month which is celebrated as ‘Kanglen’.
The ritual ceremony of Kanglen is similar to that of the celebration conducted on the first day.
During the procession of Kang devotees offer fruits, flowers and other edible items on the path of the chariot while many devotees pull the chariot with bare feet.
After heading the chariot from Palace Gate, it made a U-turn from MSFDS building and returned to the initial place. Later, the idols of the three deities were placed inside the Govindajee temple.
Many small street vendors selling toys and other items were seen on both the roadside where the chariot was pulled.
The Kang (chariot) of Govindajee is considered as the largest Kang in the state and the second largest Kang celebration is at ISKCON temple, Sangaiprou.
Similar processions of Kang was also seen in other parts of the valley.
