Yaosang

Yaoshang
Perhaps kids in traditional attire going for Nakatheng is the most sought after sight during the Yaosang festival
Observed byMeitei people
TypeReligious, cultural, sports, spring festival
CelebrationsAfter firing the temporary house, people started to celebrate it with colors, sports, dance and feasts.
Dateas per Meitei calendar
FrequencyAnnual
Related toHoli, Hola Mohalla and Shigmo

Yaosang is a festival celebrated in Manipur for five days in spring, starting on the full moon day of the month of Lamda (February–March). Yaosang is indigenous traditions of the Meitei people.[1] It is considered the most important festival in Manipur.[2] But unlike Holi, the celebrations go far beyond just colours.

  1. ^ Singh, Ksh Imokanta (2008). Religion and Development in North-east India: A sociological understanding (PDF). University of Birmingham. p. 76. ISBN 978-0-7044-2655-9. Retrieved 18 June 2015. However, rather than starting a completely new religious system, their efforts have focused on establishing a parallel culture to counter the Vaishnavite forces, for example observance of Yaosang (Meitei version of Holi) during the same period as the Hindu Dol jatra festival. This movement may try to create a political fissure within the society, but it is very difficult to sort out which elements are purely Hindu and which indigenous, because people have long internalized both elements in their way of life. {{cite book}}: |journal= ignored (help)
  2. ^ Parratt, Saroj Nalini (April 1974). "The Public Festivals" (PDF). The Religion of Manipur: Beliefs, Rituals and Historical Development (Thesis). Australian National University. p. 43. Retrieved 18 June 2015. The third, and most important, of the Krishnaite festivals is Dol Jatra, or, to give it its Meitei name, Yaosang. This is the greatest of the Meitei festivals and is celebrated on the full moon of Lamta (February––March), lasting for six days.