Unhealthy westernization of Yaoshang celebration: Public reactions

Unauthorised use of fire fighting vehicles

IT Exclusive
The state of Manipur is known for festivals, and not a single month passes without celebrating a festival. Among the calendar full of festivals, Yaoshang is one such event where young and old alike enjoy in their own ways.
However in recent years, Yaoshang- the local adaptation of Holi festival of Hindu religion has taken a detrimental turn with people started celebrating the festival in extravagant unhealthy manners.
In connection with the changing trend of celebrating the popular festival of Manipuri-Hindu people, representatives of Imphal Times toured the city to check how the people celebrate the festival.
During the reach out, Laishram Chitrangada of Khabam under Heingang Police Station told that for the last few years a large number of people thronged at Route 39 Restaurant located at Mantripukhri to celebrate the festival. The owner of the restaurant who is reportedly one of the relatives of the state Chief Minister organized special musical and water splashing event in front of the eatery. Music, colours and waters made the crowd a frenzied and horrid look.
The festival is celebrated as thanksgiving and to share love and repair broken relationships with the closing of winter and welcoming a happy spring season. Meeting friends, organizing Thabal Chongba, Yaosang Sports, Aber Teinabi, Chak Chanabi, Yaoshang peisa thatpa etc are the main aspects of celebrating the festival since long time, commented a local of Uripok while expressing his unhappiness over the changing trend of celebrating the festival and keeping ‘westernization of Yaosang’ in the subject.
He also informed that a water splashing event was organized at Uripok near the Over Bridge. Fire fighting vehicles of  Manipur Fire Department were used to splash all over the place and people giving a wild view.
According to report, the organizer took permission from the authorities to use two vehicles of state Fire Department. Even the police personnel, who were deployed at the area, made a futile effort to tame the hysteric crowd.
When contacted over phone regarding the permission to use fire fighting vehicles of state Fire Department at the water flashing event at Uripok, Kh Chandramani Singh, Director of State Fire Department said that the vehicles were used without permission from the department authority.