Moreh’s Fire Walking Festival Concludes Without Signature Ritual for the First Time in 58 Years

Fire Walking Festival: Since settling in Moreh, the Tamil community has upheld the festival as a cultural and spiritual tradition.

For the first time in 58 years, the iconic Fire Walking Festival celebrated by the Tamil community in Moreh, a border town along the Indo-Myanmar region, concluded without its hallmark ritual, the fire walking ceremony. The ongoing conflict in Manipur has affected all communities in the state, including the Tamil population, which organizes the only Fire Walking Festival in the entire Northeast.

The festival, led by the temple committee of Shree Angala Parmeshwari Shree Muneshwarar Temple, began on April 2 and continued for ten days. Despite improved conditions compared to last year when the celebrations were limited to a single day, the scale remained subdued, and many major events, including the central fire walking ritual, were canceled due to prevailing tensions.

Since settling in Moreh, the Tamil community has upheld the festival as a cultural and spiritual tradition, often celebrated with grandeur and participation from various local communities. This year, however, their absence was deeply felt by the organizers and devotees alike.

During the main prayer ceremonies, the celebration committee offered heartfelt prayers for the return of peace and normalcy in the region. They expressed hope that future editions of the festival would once again be marked by vibrant, all-community participation and the full return of cherished traditions.

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For more news and updates, visit: Northeast Live

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