UKHRUL: Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented curated gifts showcasing the intricacies of Indian art and the rich produce of fruits and millets from across the country to world leaders during his five-nation tour. Among the gifts was a white silk stole adorned with a red border featuring the insignia of the Shirui Lily (Lilium mackliniae Sealy), which was presented to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Locally known as Kashong Timrawon, the Shirui Lily is native to the Shirui Peak in Ukhrul district of Manipur. More than just a flower of exceptional beauty, it carries with it centuries of myths, legends, and cultural significance for the Tangkhul Naga community.
The flower was discovered in 1946 by plant explorers led by Frank Kingdon-Ward and was later named after his wife, Jean Macklin, becoming known scientifically as Lilium mackliniae Sealy. Its discovery earned Kingdon-Ward the prestigious award of the Royal Horticultural Society at the 1948 flower show in London.
The Shirui Lily is a delicate whitish-pink, bell-shaped flower that is said to reveal seven colours under a microscope. Every year, between May 15 and June 5, visitors trek to the Shirui Hills hoping to witness its rare bloom. Carefully preserved for generations by the Tangkhul Nagas, the flower cannot be cultivated elsewhere, not even under controlled conditions, adding to the mystique surrounding both the flower and the hills it inhabits.
According to Tangkhul Naga folklore, a princess lies buried in the Shirui Hills, eternally waiting for her lover’s return. The Shirui Lily is believed to bloom from the very soil where she rests. Over generations, numerous stories and myths have emerged around the flower, passed down lovingly by the indigenous communities of Ukhrul. In honour of the state flower, the annual Shirui Lily Festival is celebrated during its peak blooming season, highlighting both its ecological and cultural significance.
ALSO READ: Naga Students’ Union Mumbai Organises ‘Sports for Peace’ and Candlelight Prayer for Manipur
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand shared on X, “It is a matter of great pride for the people of Manipur that the Hon’ble Prime Minister presented a goodwill token bearing the insignia of the Shirui Lily, our State flower.” Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla also described the gesture as “a graceful tribute to Manipur and Northeast India’s natural and cultural heritage on the world stage,” adding that it carried “the spirit of heritage, craftsmanship and friendship” beyond borders.
Despite its symbolic importance, the Shirui Lily faces multiple threats that endanger its survival and hinder conservation efforts. A study by Ngayaipam Zimik and Waikhom Arunkumar Meetei highlights that the endangered species, endemic to the Shirui Hills of Manipur, is under severe ecological stress. Climate change and extensive human intrusion including resource exploitation, forest fires, slash-and-burn cultivation, and unregulated eco-tourism have led to habitat degradation and fragmentation of its population.
Tourism has further intensified these challenges through pollution, trampling, and plucking of flowers. Additionally, invasive dwarf bamboo species are rapidly encroaching upon the lily’s natural habitat, competing for resources and obstructing conservation efforts. Difficulties in plant propagation have also complicated ex situ breeding initiatives.
ALSO READ: 6 Naga Hostages Case: UNC Seeks HM Amit Shah’s Urgent Intervention
To address these challenges, a combination of modern conservation strategies and community-led initiatives has been implemented. Traditionally, the Tangkhul tribe has protected the upper reaches of the Shirui Hills as sacred territory, a cultural practice that has naturally contributed to biodiversity preservation.
Local organisations such as the Shirui Youth Club and the Mungleng Vathei Hill Development Society continue to play a crucial role in conservation by removing invasive weeds, managing waste, preventing illegal harvesting, and collecting seeds for replanting. Effective community-based forest management remains essential to safeguarding not only the Shirui Lily but also the wider ecosystem and indigenous knowledge systems of the region.