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YAOSHANG FESTIVAL
Why in news?
Recently, The five-day-long Yaoshang festival, Manipur’s version of Holi, has begun.
About:
- Yaosang is a festival celebrated in Manipur for five days in spring, starting on the full moon day of the month of Lamda (February–March).
- Yaosang is indigenous traditions of the Meitei people. It is considered the most important festival in Manipur.
- Yaoshang begins just after sunset followed by Yaosang Mei thaba, also known as Burning of the Straw Hut. Children visit neighbours to ask for monetary donations, called nakatheng.
- Yaoshang, unlike Holi, is celebrated with a traditional twist in Manipur. During these five days Manipur comes alive with sporting events during the day and traditional “thabal chongba” dance in the night.
- Thousands of people took to the streets to demand the immediate inclusion of the Meitei community in the ST list on Sunday.
- The thabal chongba is a traditional dance of the Meitei, where boys and girls gathered in an open ground and dance in a circle.
- But these days thabal chongba is performed throughout the month of Lamta. Business activities and public transportation come to a grinding halt during Yaoshang. All educational institutions, both private and government, will also remain shut.