Imphal: Thousands of devotees turned up on Friday to participate the Shri Shri Govindaji Kang procession (Rath Yatra) in conflict-hit Manipur after a gap of two years.
The festival had been observed on a low scale for the past two years due to the social unrest triggered by the Kuki-Zo related conflict.
This year witnessed mass participation even at the residential area celebrations.
Devotees offered fruits and flowers to Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra, and their sister Subhadra amid chanting the glory of Krishna in kritan.
“This year’s large turnout is a positive sign of peace returning to Manipur,” said Thangjam Dasarat Singh, a local community leader.
Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla visited the Govindaji Temple in the morning and offered prayers. Photographs shared by the Raj Bhavan Manipur on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle showed the Governor paying tribute to the deities. “Governor of Manipur, Shri Ajay Kumar Bhalla, visited the Shree Shree Govindajee Temple in Imphal on the occasion of Rath Yatra. He offered prayers and prayed for peace, prosperity, and the well-being of the people of Manipur. He also extended his greetings to the people of the State on this auspicious occasion,” the post stated.
Unlike last year, when unidentified miscreants fired two rounds at the chariot, this year’s procession passed off peacefully with heavy deployment of security forces around the venue.
“This year’s celebration feels almost like how it used to be before the May 3, 2023, incident. I prayed for the complete restoration of peace in the state,” said a non-Manipuri devotee who resides in the state.
A similar celebration was also held at ISKCON Temple periphery, Sangaiprou, Imphal.
Devotees were seen with smaller kangs (chariots) celebrating the religious festival in various parts of the valley districts.
