Imphal: Thousands of devotees flooded Manipur on Thursday for Rath Yatra. Locally known as Kang or Kang Chingba, the festival marks the annual chariot procession for Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra. The events drew massive crowds to religious sites across the state.
Key celebrations centered at the historic Shree Shree Govindaji Temple inside the Palace Compound. Massive crowds also gathered at the Shree Shree Bijoy Govinda Temple and the ISKCON Temple on Tiddim Road. Devotees arrived early to secure their spots. They pulled heavy wooden chariots through the streets while chanting hymns and listening to Sankirtana artists.
Participants donned traditional Manipuri attire, including elegant Innaphi and traditional jewelry. The atmosphere remained charged with spiritual intensity. As festivities stretched into the evening, performers engaged in Choitep Chongba, a traditional devotional dance held before the deities. Organizers concluded the day with congregational prayers and the distribution of Khechri as prasadam.
The festival remains a pillar of the Meitei Vaishnavite community. It serves as a "symbol of devotion, communal harmony and the enduring Vaishnavite heritage of Manipur." Residents across various localities held parallel events, offering prayers for peace and prosperity.
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