IMPHAL:  In light of the prevailing ethnic violence in Manipur, the annual Rath Yatra procession with chariots, a cherished public festival for two centuries, was skipped on Tuesday. The region has been grappling with this conflict, resulting in over 120 fatalities and displacing more than 60,000 individuals since its eruption on May 3rd.

The yearly Rath Yatra, known as Kang Chingba in Manipur, is organised by the Shree Shree Govindaji Temple Board, which chose not to organise any public events and to limit rites to the confines of the temples themselves.

Due to the current circumstances, a number of religious organisations, including the Brahma Sabha and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), opted not to stage any public processions.

The idols of Lord Jagannath and his two siblings, Devi Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra, are removed from Shree Shree Govindaji Temple at the palace compound in Imphal on the occasion of the Rath Yatra and placed on a nearly 30-foot-tall wooden chariot that is pulled by a large number of devotees during a ceremonial procession.

The celebration began in the royal palace in 1780 under Maharaja Bhagyachandra's rule, and after the Shree Shree Govindaji temple was constructed in 1832 under Maharaja Gambhir Singh (who ruled the former princely state from 1825 to 1834), it became a public annual funfair.

Anusuiya Uikey, the governor of Manipur, welcomed the crowd on this occasion. The festival is joyfully observed by the Hindu Meiteis on the second day of the fourth lunar month of the Manipuri calendar, Engen, which falls in late June or early July. The celebration of Lord Jagannath's voyage lasts for ten days till Kanglen.

"Kang is a representation of harmony, brotherhood, and tranquilly for many. Numerous thousands of followers take part in this yatra and are fortunate by dragging Lord Jagannath's chariot and receiving joy and wealth.Let this year's Rath Yatra bring all households in the state enduring harmony, peace, and development, the governor wished in her statement.

General Traditional Features of Rath Yatra: The yearly Rath Yatra, known as Kang Chingba, holds great significance in the state of Manipur, India. Kang Chingba is a vibrant and colorful festival celebrated by the Manipuri community with immense enthusiasm and devotion.

During this auspicious occasion, devotees come together to commemorate Lord Jagannath's chariot journey. The festival takes place in the month of June or July and is marked by the grand procession of beautifully decorated chariots, resembling the ones in Puri's famous Rath Yatra.

The Kang Chingba festival is a perfect blend of religious and cultural fervor. People from all walks of life, irrespective of their caste or creed, participate in the procession. Elaborate arrangements are made to ensure the smooth movement of the chariots, which are pulled by devotees with ropes.

The air is filled with chants, hymns, and the beating of traditional drums as the procession makes its way through the streets of Manipur. Devotees dressed in traditional attire offer prayers and seek blessings from Lord Jagannath, his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra, and other deities present in the chariots.