Archive · 31 Oct 2025
COCOMI Backs Sangai Festival Boycott, Cites Insensitivity Amid Manipur Crisis
Imagine Manipur is going through a really tough time with many people having to leave their homes and living in difficult places.
A group called COCOMI thinks it's not the right time to have a big party called the Sangai Festival.
They feel it's like celebrating when many people are sad and suffering.
COCOMI wants the government to use the money and effort for helping those who lost their homes and for making things peaceful again.
They believe having a festival that celebrates tourism and culture is not important when people don't have enough food or a safe place to live, and children are not going to school.
The Sangai Festival is usually a big event to show Manipur's culture, but this year, many people, including those who lost their homes, are saying it's not a good idea to have it.
COCOMI announced support for the boycott of the Sangai Festival.
The organization cited the ongoing humanitarian crisis, displacement, and suffering in Manipur as reasons for the boycott.
COCOMI called the festival 'insensitive' and 'disconnected' from the people's plight.
The group urged the state government to redirect funds and efforts towards relief, rehabilitation, and restoring peace.
The Sangai Festival, an annual tourism event showcasing Manipur's culture, has faced criticism amid continuing insecurity and displacement since May 2023.
- Who
- Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) and convenor Yumkhaibam Surjit Singh
- What
- Announced support for the boycott of the Sangai Festival, deeming it insensitive to the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
- When
- Friday, October 31st
- Where
- Imphal, Manipur
- Why
- The organization believes celebrating the festival is inappropriate given the displacement, suffering, highway blockades, and humanitarian crisis in Manipur, urging the government to focus on relief and rehabilitation instead.
COCOMI and Boycott Supporters
State Government (implied - organizers of Sangai Festival)
Appropriateness of Sangai Festival
COCOMI and Boycott Supporters
Holding the Sangai Festival is insensitive and inappropriate given the widespread suffering, displacement, and ongoing humanitarian crisis in Manipur.
State Government (implied - organizers of Sangai Festival)
The Sangai Festival is an important event for showcasing Manipur's culture, art, and heritage, attracting visitors and supporting tourism (details of government's stance not explicitly stated but implied by organizing the festival).
Resource Allocation
COCOMI and Boycott Supporters
Funds and efforts should be redirected from the festival towards relief, rehabilitation, and restoring peace for the affected population.
State Government (implied - organizers of Sangai Festival)
The festival is a priority event for the state, implying resources are allocated for its organization (details of government's stance not explicitly stated but implied by organizing the festival).
- Organization
- COCOMI (Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity)
- Event Boycotted
- Sangai Festival
- Reason for Boycott
- Insensitive amid ongoing humanitarian crisis, displacement, and suffering in Manipur
- Date of Announcement
- Friday (October 31st)
- Key Spokesperson
- Yumkhaibam Surjit Singh (Convenor, COCOMI)