Imphal, May 13: In an attempt to lure tourists to Manipur, Nongthombam Biren Singh's government is set start a five-day Shirui Lily Festival in Ukhrul district.

The festival, organised by the state's tourism department, will start on Tuesday with a function at Vangayan Ground at the foothill of the peak where the lilies bloom in May.

This is the first time the state government is organising the festival, which is dubbed as "a treat for adventure and nature lovers."

"The festival is aimed at exposing the beauty of nature, Shirui lily and the entire Ukhrul district. We are hoping to bring in tourists who love adventure and nature every year in May," Biren Singh said.

He also said the government aims to improve relations between all communities by letting them participate in the festival.

The main event, which will showcase the rich art forms of different communities of Manipur, will be held at Tangkhul Naga Long grounds in Ukhrul.

Apart from dance and music, a flower show, traditional games, Shumang Leela (traditional theatre), fashion parade and a rock concert will entertain visitors. The bonus for the tourists is climbing the Shirui hills to see the flowers.

Kingdon F. Ward, a British botanist, discovered Manipur's state flower, the Shirui lily, in 1947 during a plant-hunting expedition to the state, which was funded by New York Botanic Garden.

In his book, Plant Hunter in Manipur, Ward described Shirui Kasong hill range as a hill "painted pink" by Shirui lily. "He named the flower Lilium Macklineae after his wife's name Jean Macklin.

The lily is on the verge of extinction, primarily because of the state government's indifference, ignorance and climate change.

"If something is not done immediately with the active initiative of the government, this rare species may become extinct in Shirui hills," environmentalist and secretary of Manipur Association for Science and Society (MASS) R.K. Ranjan Singh said.

Ranjan Singh, who is now one of the think tanks of BJP, however, welcomed the initiative taken by the new government to organise the festival with the aim of not only bringing tourists but also paying attention to the rare flower.

Located at the height of 8,427 feet above the sea level in Ukhrul district, the state government, in 1984, had proposed to declare the Shirui hill range a national park. However, the plan did not materialise because of controversies over payment of land compensation among others.

Ranjan said the festival would be more meaningful if the past rituals and beliefs of people living in the hill range are showcased to preserve ancient history of the hill people and the range.