News: The 2025 Shirui Lily festival is being held in the backdrop of ongoing ethnic tensions between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities that began in May 2023. Shirui Lily Festival.
About the Shirui Lily Festival
- The Shirui Lily Festival is a state-organised tourism festival held annually in Ukhrul district, Manipur.
- It is organised by the Department of Tourism, Government of Manipur.
- The festival was first launched in 2017 as part of the state’s efforts to promote eco-tourism and showcase its cultural diversity.
- The festival is named after the Shirui Lily (Lilium mackliniae), which is the official state flower of Manipur.
- It aims to raise awareness about the rare and endangered Shirui Lily and its natural habitat in the Shirui Hills.
- Along with the Sangai Festival, it is one of the two flagship tourism festivals of the state.
About the Shirui Lily
- The Shirui Lily is a rare and endangered species that grows only in the upper reaches of the Shirui Hills in Ukhrul district.
- Locally known as “Kashong Timrawon,” the flower is deeply rooted in the folklore and spiritual beliefs of the Tangkhul Naga community.
- Over the years, the natural habitat of the lily has been under threat due to climate change, human encroachment, resource exploitation, and the invasion of wild bamboo species.
