Huge turnout expected at Shirui Lily fest

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 11: The Shirui Lily festival in Ukhrul slated to begin from October 16 is expected to attract more than two lakh tourists, said Tourism Director Waikhom Ibohal today.
Speaking to this reporter, the Director said that the festival will be held at three different venues - Bakshi Ground, Shirui village and Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) ground at Ukhrul district headquarters which will host a series of events including rock shows, cultural events, Shirui marathon and beauty pageant etc.
The 3rd edition of the State Level Shirui Lily Festival will be kicked off at Shirui village on October 16 with Union Minister of Tourism Prahlad Singh Patel and Chief Minister N Biren Singh as chief guest and president respectively, he said.
On the opening day, around 120 stalls, all exhibiting and selling indigenous items of NE States and other parts of India, will be opened at TNL ground while Bakshi ground will host live concerts of international rock bands Nazareth and Extreme, the Director said. Besides the scenic beauty of Ukhrul district, different indigenous cuisines of the State will also add to the flavour of the festival, the Director said. Maximum efforts are being taken up by the Tourism Department, DC Ukhrul and district and village level committees to make the festival a grand success, he added. So far more than 800 tourists from outside Manipur have booked rooms at homestays, he said adding that the number is expected to rise in the coming two/three days.
Around 1.5 lakh tourists visited Ukhrul in the 2nd edition of the festival last year and the Government spent about Rs 5 crore. The festival this year is expected to cost around Rs 6 to 7 crore, he said. The festival will end on October 19.