Guwahati: Excitement is building as preparations kick off for the Sanghai tourism festival after a two-year break! The colorful event will light up Hapta Kangjeibung in Imphal from November 21 to November 30. But this isn’t just any festival — it’s returning amid tense times in Manipur. Since 2023, the festival had stopped due to ethnic violence shaking the state. The Imphal valley has been hit hard. Groups like the Coordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) and people forced to leave their homes, called internally displaced persons (IDPs), are not happy. They ask people to boycott the festival. Why? COCOMI declared, “The ongoing conflict has displaced thousands of people, shattered livelihoods, and destroyed trust among communities and yet the government appears eager to showcase a false image of normalcy through festivals.” Ouch! The state government, however, is trying to make the event welcoming. They said no stall fees will be charged for IDPs who want to sell their goods during the festival. As per a notification from the Directorate of Trade, Commerce and Industries, “No fees will be charged from IDPs for allotment of commercial stalls.” This could offer some relief to those still struggling. The backdrop to all this festivity is serious. On May 3, 2023, ethnic violence erupted between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ protested the Meitei’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status. The clash left a deep scar: over 260 dead, 1,500 injured, and more than 70,000 people displaced. Adding to the drama, Manipur has been under President’s Rule since February 13, 2024, right after Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned on February 9. The 60-member Manipur Assembly is in suspended animation with its term set to last till 2027. So as festival lights glow in Hapta Kangjeibung this November, the people of Manipur face a crucial question: Can celebration bloom in the shadow of conflict? Stay tuned as they find the answer!