In News:

The 5th State-Level Shirui Lily Festival resumed in Ukhrul district, Manipur from May 20–24, 2025, after a two-year pause due to ethnic unrest. It marks a symbolic step towards peace, as it involved significant movement through previously restricted areas with heightened security.

About the Shirui Lily Festival:

• Organised by: Manipur Tourism Department
• First Held: 2017
• Venue:Shirui Village, Ukhrul District
• Objective: Promote eco-tourism and create awareness about the endangered Shirui Lily
• Special 2025 Edition: Commemorates the 75th anniversary of the discovery of the Shirui Lily

Key Features (2025 Edition):

• Cultural Events: Traditional dances, gospel rock shows, and live performances at the ShiRock music festival
• Eco-Initiatives: Trash collection drives and conservation awareness campaigns
• Competitions:
  • SheChef Cooking Contest (vegetarian & childhood memory dishes)
  • Miss Shirui Lily 2025 beauty pageant
  • Sports (football, wrestling, tug of war, mini-marathon)
• Adventure Activities: Ziplining, camping, biking
• Special Ceremonies: Unveiling of the 75th Anniversary Memorial and a drone show
• Closing Function: Hosted by senior officials from the Ministry of Tourism

About Shirui Lily (Lilium mackliniae):

• Botanical Name:Lilium mackliniae
• Discovered by: Botanist Frank Kingdon-Ward in 1946, named after his wife Jean Macklin
• Local Name:KashongTimrawon
• Geographic Range: Exclusively found in the Shirui Hills (2,673 m altitude) of Ukhrul district
• State Flower of Manipur

Ecological and Cultural Significance:

• Endemic Habitat: The species is not viable for transplantation outside its native micro-climate
• Flowering Season: April to June, marked by a breathtaking bloom of pinkish-white bell-shaped flowers
• Cultural Reverence: Associated with the local deity Philava, symbolising spiritual and ecological identity of the Tangkhul Naga tribe
• Global Recognition: Awarded by the Royal Horticultural Society at the London Flower Show in 1950

Conservation Status and Efforts:

• Threats: Habitat loss, invasive species, and climate change
• Conservation Status:Endangered
• Scientific Interventions: ICAR-NEH, under Dr. Manas Sahoo, has developed micropropagation techniques for in-situ conservation