NE India
Kang (Rath Yatra)
Manipur's grand chariot festival of Lord Jagannath.
Pralaylahiry · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Kang, the Manipuri Rath Yatra, is one of the biggest Hindu festivals of the Meitei, celebrated over ten days in the monsoon month when the image of Lord Jagannath is drawn through the streets of Imphal on a beautifully decorated chariot (the kang). Devotees take turns pulling the ropes, and the festival fills the valley with processions, music, sports and the distinctive rhythms of Manipuri devotion.
It is a vivid expression of the Vaishnavite culture that has shaped the Manipur valley for centuries, blending seamlessly with the Meitei's own artistic traditions of dance and music.
Photo: Pralaylahiry · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Know before you go
- Centred on Imphal and the valley's temples.
- An Inner Line Permit is required for Manipur; check current advisories.
- Falls in the monsoon, so pack rain protection.
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