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Imphal, July 16, : : Manipur celebrated the annual Kang Festival the state’s traditional version of Rath Yatra with devotion and grandeur today. Celebrations were held not only in Imphal but also across local areas and village temples throughout the state.
Governor of Manipur, Shri Ajay Kumar Bhalla, along with his wife, MLAs Th. Biswajit and Thokchom Satyabrata, joined thousands of devotees in pulling the sacred chariots carrying the idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra at the Palace Compound.
Devotion Across Imphal and Villages
From early morning, devotees thronged the historic Shree Shree Govindajee Temple in Imphal to offer prayers and seek divine blessings. The atmosphere was filled with the rhythmic beats of the Pung drum as the beautifully adorned chariot began its sacred journey through the city.
Large numbers of devotees also gathered at the ISKCON Temple on Tiddim Road, where they offered prayers and participated in the ceremonial pulling of the chariots.
Similar scenes of devotion were witnessed in localities and villages across Manipur, where temples organized prayers, community feasts, and chariot-pulling ceremonies, marking Kang as a festival of the people.
Governor Bhalla and the legislators were seen pulling the chariot rope alongside devotees, marking the festival with reverence and unity.
“More than a festival, Kang is a homecoming for the soul”
The Kang Festival is celebrated as the divine journey of Lord Jagannath and siblings. For Manipur, it is not just a religious event but a cultural tradition passed down for generations.
As one devotee described it: “It is the warmth of sharing Khechri with neighbours on fresh lotus leaves, and the sight of elders guiding the hands of the young to pull the Lord’s chariot passing down a legacy of faith.”
Prayers were offered for the steady progress, peace, and prosperity of the state. The image of a single rope being pulled by thousands symbolized unity, with the collective chant and step forward reflecting Manipur’s spirit of togetherness.
A Festival of Unity
The Kang Festival remains one of Manipur’s most significant religious celebrations, drawing people from all communities in both urban and rural areas to witness the homecoming of the Lord and to reaffirm faith, culture, and harmony.
