After a two-year hiatus due to the ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, Manipur has cautiously welcomed back the Shirui Lily Festival marking the state’s first major tourism event since violence erupted in May 2023. The festival commenced on May 20 and will run until May 25 in Ukhrul district, home to the Tangkhul Naga community. Its return is seen as a symbolic gesture of healing in a region still grappling with tensions. Organised by the Manipur Tourism Department, the Shirui Lily Festival celebrates the rare Shirui Lily (Lilium mackliniae), which blooms in the upper reaches of the Shirui Hills. This flower, also known locally as Kashong Timrawon, holds cultural and mythological significance among the local population. The plant is named after Timrawon, a mythical figure believed to be the daughter of the goddess Philava who protects the Shirui Hills.
British botanist Frank Kingdon-Ward first documented the flower in 1946, naming it after his wife, Jean Macklin. The Shirui Lily has since become a symbol of ecological uniqueness in Manipur but is now facing existential threats. A 2015 study by scientists from ICAR’s Research Complex for the Northeastern Hill Region pointed out that climate change, human encroachment, and the invasion of wild bamboo species have pushed the flower to the brink of extinction. The Shirui Lily efstival is not only a celebration of biodiversity but also an important tourism event designed to promote eco-tourism in the hilly terrains of Ukhrul. Activities include cultural performances, music concerts, a beauty pageant, a trash collection marathon, and a cooking competition, all aimed at engaging visitors and spreading awareness about conservation.
However, the backdrop remains tense. The state is under President’s Rule and only recently marked two years since the outbreak of ethnic violence. Although open hostilities between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities have subsided since November 2024, tensions persist. The festival is being held in Naga territory, considered neutral ground, but access to Ukhrul from the Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley requires passage through three Kuki-Zo areas. This has raised concerns over security. Despite a few isolated incidents of threats against Meitei travellers, the Manipur Police have assured that robust arrangements are in place to ensure safety for all attendees. The Shirui Lily Festival thus stands as both a cultural revival and a fragile test of peace in a deeply divided Manipur.
