Photo Courtesy: ukhrultimes
Imphal: Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently presented Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni with a white silk stole featuring the insignia of the Shirui Lily. The gift, part of a collection of items showcasing India's diverse heritage, highlights a rare flower native to the Shirui Peak in Manipur's Ukhrul district. Known locally as Kashong Timrawon, the bell-shaped blossom holds deep cultural importance for the Tangkhul Naga community.
Discovered by plant explorer Frank Kingdon-Ward in 1946, the flower was scientifically named Lilium mackliniae Sealy in honor of his wife. The species is celebrated for its beauty and the local legend of a princess buried in the hills who waits eternally for her lover. Because the flower refuses to grow outside its natural habitat, it remains a protected symbol of the region's unique environment.
State officials praised the gesture as a meaningful tribute to Northeast India on the global stage. Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand and Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla noted that the presentation serves as a symbol of friendship and cultural pride. Despite its status as the state flower, the Shirui Lily currently faces severe ecological threats. Experts point to climate change, forest fires, and unregulated tourism as major factors endangering the population of this rare plant.
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