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Yaoshang celebrated in Manipur

By Sobhapati Samom

IMPHAL, March 3 � Community feasting, playing of Holi and holding of games and sports at every locality were the main activities during the five-day Yaoshang festival in Manipur. The festival Yaoshang coincides with Holi.

Market places, commercial establishments, government offices, banks as well as educational institutions remained closed during the festival. Even the ATMs hardly work as there was no one to replenish them daily. Inter-district bus services also did not ply.

The dozen newspapers published from Imphal remained off the stand during the Yaoshang.

Organising sports festival as part of Yaoshang is a practice for the last four to five decades with the sports festival becoming a stepping stone for nurturing talented sportspersons in the State. But recently many localities have started to convert such activities into entertainment oriented events in view of the ongoing conflict situation in the State.

�Yaoshang sports have been converted into a merry making event for all ages�, RK Gope of Nongmeibung in Imphal East district said. �We hardly have time to laugh together in view of the situation�.

Besides, there is the Thabal Chongba dance, a Manipuri folk dance where boys and girls form a circle, hold hands and sing and dance.

So if you are planning a trip to Manipur in the month of February, don�t forget to be a part of the Yaoshang festival and carry home the memories you will cherish all your lives.

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