The 5th State-Level Shirui Lily Festival , scheduled from May 20 to 24, kicked off Tuesday with a grand inaugural ceremony at Heritage Ground, Vangayan in Shirui Village, Ukhrul. Organized by the Manipur department of tourism, this year’s edition holds special significance as it commemorates the 75th anniversary of Manipur’s iconic and endangered state flower — the Shirui Lily ( Lilium Mackliniae ).
The inaugural function will be graced by the governor of Manipur, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, who is scheduled to arrive at 11.30 AM as the chief guest.
The Shirui Lily Festival celebrates the delicate and endangered Lilium Mackliniae, which blooms exclusively in the Shirui Hills — a region that cannot support replanting elsewhere. The festival takes place during the peak blooming season of the flower, underscoring its ecological importance.
Today’s festivities at the Shirui Lily Festival 2025 will feature a vibrant mix of activities for all age groups, featuring cultural performances , poem recitation, souvenir release and the launch of the flower show and art exhibition
Highlights include a pork eating contest, the first round of the SheChef cooking competition , and adventure activities like camping, ziplining, and biking at Jorcheng from 11 AM to midnight, along with an acoustic evening.
A football match will kick off at 5 PM at Ramngashim Turf Ground, and movie screenings will begin at 2 PM at TTA Hall. The day will conclude with a dazzling drone show and high-energy performances at the ShiRock music festival at Bakshi Ground.
What’s happening next at the Shirui Lily Festival 2025
After today’s grand opening, the festival will continue with four days of exciting events:
The Shirui Lily is a rare and captivating pinkish-white flower found only in the Shirui Hill range in Ukhrul district, about 83 kilometers from Imphal. Named after Jean Macklin, the wife of botanist Dr Frank Kingdon Ward, who first discovered the flower in 1946, the Shirui Lily gained worldwide recognition when it was awarded a prestigious merit by the Royal Horticultural Society at its London Flower Show in 1950.
Reaching a height of about a foot, the lily’s bell-shaped flowers create a breathtaking display during its flowering season, which runs from April to June. The hills of Shirui, covered with these vibrant lilies, offer stunning panoramic views, making it a popular destination for nature lovers and photographers.
The inaugural function will be graced by the governor of Manipur, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, who is scheduled to arrive at 11.30 AM as the chief guest.
The Shirui Lily Festival celebrates the delicate and endangered Lilium Mackliniae, which blooms exclusively in the Shirui Hills — a region that cannot support replanting elsewhere. The festival takes place during the peak blooming season of the flower, underscoring its ecological importance.
Today’s festivities at the Shirui Lily Festival 2025 will feature a vibrant mix of activities for all age groups, featuring cultural performances , poem recitation, souvenir release and the launch of the flower show and art exhibition
Highlights include a pork eating contest, the first round of the SheChef cooking competition , and adventure activities like camping, ziplining, and biking at Jorcheng from 11 AM to midnight, along with an acoustic evening.
A football match will kick off at 5 PM at Ramngashim Turf Ground, and movie screenings will begin at 2 PM at TTA Hall. The day will conclude with a dazzling drone show and high-energy performances at the ShiRock music festival at Bakshi Ground.
What’s happening next at the Shirui Lily Festival 2025
After today’s grand opening, the festival will continue with four days of exciting events:
- May 21: The 75th Anniversary Memorial structure will be unveiled, followed by Shirui Gospel Rock performances. Round 1 of the SheChef cooking contest begins, along with traditional games, movie screenings, and live music by ShiRock artists.
- May 22: A Bike Peace Rally will take place, along with Round 2 of SheChef (vegetarian dishes), local games, and a lively bonfire concert. ShiRock will feature performances by artists from across the country.
- May 23: The day will include a mini-marathon, wrestling, tug of war, Round 3 of SheChef (childhood memory dishes), and the Miss Shirui Lily 2025 beauty pageant.
- May 24 (Final Day): The festival will conclude with a grand closing ceremony at Bakshi Ground, in the presence of Chief Guest Suman Billa, IAS, director general of the ministry of tourism. The final round of SheChef will also take place.
The Shirui Lily is a rare and captivating pinkish-white flower found only in the Shirui Hill range in Ukhrul district, about 83 kilometers from Imphal. Named after Jean Macklin, the wife of botanist Dr Frank Kingdon Ward, who first discovered the flower in 1946, the Shirui Lily gained worldwide recognition when it was awarded a prestigious merit by the Royal Horticultural Society at its London Flower Show in 1950.
Reaching a height of about a foot, the lily’s bell-shaped flowers create a breathtaking display during its flowering season, which runs from April to June. The hills of Shirui, covered with these vibrant lilies, offer stunning panoramic views, making it a popular destination for nature lovers and photographers.
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