The Ethno Heritage Council (HERICOUN) has decided not to participate in the Sangai Festival 2026, citing the prevailing situation in Manipur and expressing support for the boycott call announced by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI).
In a statement, HERICOUN Secretary General Aheibam Anand said the decision was taken after carefully considering the continuing crisis in the state since May 3, 2023, particularly the hardships faced by the affected population and internally displaced persons (IDPs).
HERICOUN questioned the appropriateness of organising a tourism festival while many displaced people remain unable to return home, families continue to face hardship and several unresolved issues arising from the conflict remain unaddressed.
The organisation said resources being used for the festival would be better directed towards the rehabilitation of IDPs, compensation for affected people and strengthening security infrastructure in the state. It also called for effective measures to address what it described as the influx of illegal immigrants and continuing violence.
Backing COCOMI’s boycott movement, HERICOUN questioned whether the government could claim to have restored peace while people continue to live in uncertainty and fear.
HERICOUN appealed to the Manipur Government not to organise Sangai Festival 2026 and instead prioritise restoring normalcy, facilitating the return of displaced people to their homes and addressing unresolved issues affecting the state.
It warned that if the government proceeds with the festival without addressing the concerns of the affected population, HERICOUN would join democratic movements against the decision along with COCOMI, IDPs and other sections of society.