The festival begins with the collection of sacred fire from the holy Kangla Fort in the morning and Yaoshang Meithaba (burning of small thatch hut) in the evening on the first day.
The five-day Yaoshang festival of Manipur begins on Friday (March 18), the full moon day of Lamda (February-March). The festival is widely celebrated with full spirit, irrespective of gender and age in the state. Beyond playing with colours, the festival is marked with traditional, cultural and sporting activities.
The festival begins with the collection of sacred fire from the holy Kangla Fort in the morning and Yaoshang Meithaba (burning of small thatch hut) in the evening on the first day.
Thousands of men, women, youth and children carried the sacred fire to their locality. Yaoshang Koiba (visit relatives’ home), Yaoshang Sports (traditional games and sports events), Thabal Chongba (traditional dance), playing with colours, Pala esei (devotional song performance by the local team), Shumang Leela (traditional theatre performance) and feasts continued until the last day of the festival.
“The festival is marked by fun and gaiety imbued with spiritualism and it has now become a sports movement”, Governor of Manipur, La Ganesan greeted the people of Manipur in his Yaoshang greetings while appealing all to celebrate in its true spirit.
ORIGIN OF YAOSHANG
According to historians, the festival of Yaoshang has its close association with the Supreme God, Pakhangba and his birth. In the early days, a separate house was built for the delivery of a baby, which is known as Naoshang (Nao/Anang- baby/child, Shang/yum- house). Pakhangba was born at Naoshang, and the celebration of Yaoshang in Manipur was initially started from the day of burning the Naoshang of Pakhangba.
YAOSHANG SPORTS
Local communities/clubs widely organised Yaoshang Sports. Children, youths and elders actively participated in various traditional games, sports and entertainment events with full gaiety. The origin of Yaoshang Sports could be traced back to 1940 when like-minded people started organising games and sports during the celebration of Yaoshang to avert the ugly aspects of celebrating the festival. Now, in Manipur, which is also known as the powerhouse of Indian sports, Yaoshang is almost synonymous with games and sports. The Yaoshang Sports channelise the festive energy towards games and sports while preventing youths from indulging in adverse activities during the five days of Yaoshang holiday.
THABAL CHONGBA
Thabal Chongba is one of the famous folk dances of Manipur, where boys and girls hold hands together and dance in a circle at night. Interestingly, Thabal Chongba provides a chance for boys and girls to know each other in front of their family members and local elders. Thabal Chongba is also performed at the time of one’s success, expressing the utmost joy and happiness.
YAOSHANG KOIBA AND CHAK CHANABA
Young girls and children visit their relatives’ houses for donations during the festival. The elders present their children with gifts, money and sweets. The children also purchase toys, goods and sweets with the donations they collected, while elders dine together with friends.
