Shirui Lily Festival Returns to Manipur

On 20th May, 2025, Manipur's iconic Shirui Lily Festival resumed after a two-year hiatus due to ethnic conflict, marking the state’s first major tourism event since violence erupted in May 2023.

Key Points

Festival Overview: Organised by the Department of Tourism, the festival is held in Ukhrul district during the blooming season of the rare Shirui Lily (Lilium mackliniae), Manipur’s state flower.
Ecotourism & Culture: Features include music, cultural performances, beauty pageants, cooking contests, and awareness drives to promote the local ecosystem and tourism.
Botanical Significance: The Shirui Lily grows only in the upper reaches of the Shirui Hills at 2,673 m and faces extinction due to climate change and habitat loss.
Conservation Efforts: Scientists have been working on genetic micropropagation, transplanting lab-grown lily plantlets to preserve the species.
Security & Conflict: This year’s festival takes place under President’s Rule, with extensive security as visitors from Meitei-majority Imphal must pass through conflict-sensitive Kuki-Zo areas to reach Ukhrul.