Shirui Lily Festival 2025 Begins with Focus on Culture, Sustainability, and Plastic-Free Initiatives

Ukhrul, May 21: The Shirui Lily Festival 2025 has commenced in Ukhrul, celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the region and the Shirui Lily in particular. The festival highlights traditional performances, and the richness and diversity of Manipur’s cultural heritage.

ENFOGAL is participating in this vibrant celebration by promoting eco-friendly tourism in collaboration with the Mountain Indigenous Knowledge Centre (MIKC) and the Tangkhul Shanao Long, under the aegis of the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change, Government of Manipur. As part of this initiative, a “Waste Warriors” campaign is being organized during the event at various hotspots. Volunteers from MIKC, ENFOGAL, and Lunghar village youth are engaging in daily cleanup drives, with a special focus on plastic waste management. The campaign includes conducting a waste audit, followed by efforts to recycle and repurpose waste, supported by the Directorate.

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Additionally, the Directorate has launched a “Say No to Plastic” campaign, stretching from Finch Corner to Phangrei, spearheaded by ENFOGAL, MIKC, and Khamatek. The campaign carries a strong message to stop using single-use plastics and encourages the use of cloth carry bags to reduce plastic pollution.

Alongside these efforts, a special awareness campaign on Climate Resilient Springshed Management is also being conducted to promote the conservation of spring water sources.

Continuing its environmental advocacy, ENFOGAL will initiate its “No to Litter” campaign from Ukhrul to Phangrei during the festival. This initiative, in partnership with MIKC and Lunghar youths, aims to promote a sense of environmental responsibility among citizens. The campaign will include poster displays, cleanup drives, and waste audits, all supported by the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change.

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ENFOGAL will also promote and display upcycled cloth bags, repurposed from fabric waste, as a sustainable alternative to single-use plastics.

Above all, ENFOGAL seeks public support for its ongoing efforts to establish a mini waste segregation unit in Ukhrul—a first-of-its-kind initiative in the region. This step marks progress toward systematic waste management and aims to alleviate the growing waste crisis to some extent.

(Issued by Environmental Force At Grass Root Level)