Manipur gears up for ‘Yaoshang’ amid rising Covid cases

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL,  Mar 25: With ‘Yaoshang’ festival just a few days away, the State is prepping for the upcoming festival.
Despite the surge in Covid cases in other parts of the country, the markets here are thronging with hordes of people, some with masks and some without masks, with no ‘social distancing’ in sight. Local clubs have started preparation for the sports festival which is one of the most important aspects of this festival and the skyline of Manipur is filled with colourful flags.
On the celebration at Shree Shree Govindajee temple, Brahmacharimayum Nabakumar Sharma, Lai Shanglakpa (Chief Priest), Govindajee Temple Board, said the temple has already given directions to all the 'Holi Dals' (local sankirtan group that performs during 'Yaoshang') to limit the number to just 7-8 individuals per group in view of the pandemic and to observe all SOPs strictly. B Nabakumar added that the procession of 'Brajamai' from Bijoy Govinda has also been reduced from more than 100 to just 10-20 individuals for this year.
President of Nupi Keithel Semgat Sagatpa Lup Mayanglambam (O) RK Radhesana said the the vendors in Ema Keithel have already stocked up for the upcoming festival and they are expecting surge in demands in the last two days leading to 'Yaoshang'.
She added that the 'Ema Keithel' which had been closed for about a year was opened recently on February 15 and the vendors have just started getting back on feet, and recent reports of an impending 'second wave' has made all the vendors restless and worried if they will be left with piled up stocks. She urged everyone coming to the market for shopping to adhere to Covid appropriate SOP and wear mask as a second lockdown will be harder for everyone.
Talking to The Sangai Express, Ningthoujam Mahesh Singh, proprietor of Marjing Design and Prints, said after the Covid-19 pandemic had brought his entire business set-up into a standstill, the last two weeks have been showing signs of getting back on track with 'Yaoshang' specific T-shirt customisation orders for sports and other activities pouring in. The staff of Marjing Design and Prints had been working extra hours to meet the increased volume of orders, he said. He added that the days leading to 'Yaoshang' have always been hectic and the store had been preparing by stocking up supplies for the season.
Thabal Chongba, Shu-mang Leela, musical concerts and any form of contact sports have been banned by the Government recently. The State has been seeing an increasing trend of new Covid infections with the number reaching double digits in the last two days.