Yaosang

Yaosang is a festival celebrated in Manipur for five days in spring, starting on the full moon day of the month of Lamda (February–March). Yaosang is indigenous traditions of the Meitei people.[1] It is considered the most important festival in Manipur.[2] But unlike Holi, the celebrations go far beyond just colours.

Yaoshang
Perhaps kids in traditional attire going for Nakatheng is the most sought after sight during the Yaosang festival
Observed byMeitei people
TypeReligious, cultural, sports, spring festival
CelebrationsAfter firing the temporary house, people started to celebrate it with colors, sports, dance and feasts.
Dateas per Meitei calendar
FrequencyAnnual
Related toHoli, Hola Mohalla and Shigmo

Description

Yaosang begins just after sunset in every village with the Yaosang Mei thaba, or Burning of the Straw Hut on the night of the fullmoon of Manipuri month of Lamta. Then the children ask at every house for monetary donations, called nakatheng. On the second day, groups of local bands perform sankirtan in the Govindagee Temple in the Imphal-East district of Manipur. On the second and third days, girls go to their relatives for their nakatheng and block roads with ropes for collecting money. On the fourth and fifth days, people pour or splash water on one another. A number of sport events like tug of war and soccer are also organised on this occasion. Apart from this, the local delicacies are also shared with the neighbours during the festival.[3]

Some recent trends during the festival of Yaoshang are music concerts, DJ and other forms of entertainment at open spaces. Local bands performs during such concerts.

Dance

Another feature of this festival is Thabal Chongba (Dancing in the Moonlight). Males from various places will come to the site of the festival and dance in circles with the females, holding their hands. In 2016, this occurred 23–24 March.[4]

Celebrations

The locals also engage in feasting to celebrate this festival of merrymaking. Of late, there has been a trend of channelling the festive energy toward sporting events to spot out talents at the grassroot level, which is in line with the rich sporting spirit of the Meiteis.[5]

  • A typical Meitei Holi group performing in Govindagee Temple on the second day of Yaosang.
    A typical Meitei Holi group performing in Govindagee Temple on the second day of Yaosang.
  • As a part of the Yaosang sports festival, old folks show off their skill in a traditional form of wrestling known as mukna. These two gentlemen were more than 80 years old.
    As a part of the Yaosang sports festival, old folks show off their skill in a traditional form of wrestling known as mukna. These two gentlemen were more than 80 years old.
  • Horse Riders leading the way to the Kangla Fort while a Meitei holds the torch to inaugurate the sports festival on the first day of Yaosang.
    Horse Riders leading the way to the Kangla Fort while a Meitei holds the torch to inaugurate the sports festival on the first day of Yaosang.

References
  • Sanajaoba, Naorem (1988). Manipur, Past and Present: The Heritage and Ordeals of a Civilization, Volume 4. New Delhi: Mittal Publications. ISBN 9788170998532.
  1. Singh, Ksh Imokanta (2008). Religion and Development in North-east India: A sociological understanding (PDF). p. 76. ISBN 978-0-7044-2655-9. Retrieved 18 June 2015. However, rather than starting a completely new religious system, their efforts have focused on establishing a parallel culture to counter the Vaishnavite forces, for example observance of Yaosang (Meitei version of Holi) during the same period as the Hindu Dol jatra festival. This movement may try to create a political fissure within the society, but it is very difficult to sort out which elements are purely Hindu and which indigenous, because people have long internalized both elements in their way of life. {{cite book}}: |journal= ignored (help)
  2. Parratt, Saroj Nalini (April 1974). "The Public Festivals" (PDF). The Religion of Manipur: Beliefs, Rituals and Historical Development (Thesis). Australian National University. p. 43. Retrieved 18 June 2015. The third, and most important, of the Krishnaite festivals is Dol Jatra, or, to give it its Meitei name, Yaosang. This is the greatest of the Meitei festivals and is celebrated on the full moon of Lamta (February––March), lasting for six days.
  3. "Yaoshang festival". tourmyindia.com. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  4. General Holidays for 2016
  5. "five-day-yaoshang-festival-begins-in-manipur". easternmirrornagaland.com. Retrieved 29 August 2020.


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