Imphal: The grand concluding day of Kang Chingba, popularly known as Kanglen or Purna Yatra, was celebrated with religious fervour and traditional grandeur across Manipur on Friday.

Thousands of devotees, dressed in traditional white attire, gathered to participate in the return procession of Lord Jagannath, along with his siblings Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra. The beautifully decorated wooden chariot, known locally as Kang, was pulled through the streets amid devotional chants and prayers.

The main celebrations were held at the historic Shree Shree Govindajee Temple in the palace complex, which remains the principal centre of the festival. Similar festivities were also organised at neighbourhood Leikai Kang mandaps and the ISKCON temple at Sangaiprou, where large numbers of devotees offered prayers and joined the celebrations.

The festival was marked by traditional Sankirtana performances, including devotional singing and rhythmic Pung (drum) recitals, creating a vibrant spiritual atmosphere throughout the day.

A major attraction of Kanglen was the distribution of Khechri, a traditional spiced rice preparation served to devotees on fresh lotus leaves, symbolising devotion, unity, and community participation.

Kanglen marks the conclusion of Manipur’s centuries-old 10-day Rath Yatra festival and remains one of the state’s most significant religious and cultural celebrations, drawing devotees and visitors from across the region every year.