Manipur CM prays for peace at Purna Jatra, opens DIET centre and Ima Market in Imphal
Synopsis
On the same day he prayed for peace and communal harmony at Imphal's Shri Govindaji Temple during Purna Jatra, Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh inaugurated a ₹4.47 crore DIET teacher-training centre and a ₹3 crore all-women Ima Market at Salam — a pointed combination of symbolic and developmental signalling in a state still recovering from ethnic conflict.
Key Takeaways
Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh participated in Purna Jatra (Kanglen) observances at Shri Govindaji Temple, Imphal on 24 July , praying for peace and communal harmony.
The CM was accompanied by Maharaja and former Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba at the religious ceremony.
A new DIET building at Salam, Imphal West was inaugurated, built at an approved cost of ₹4.47 crore under the Samagra Shiksha scheme.
The Union Ministry of Education has approved 16 DIET Centres for Manipur; 9 are currently operational .
A new Ima Market (all-women market) at Salam was also inaugurated, built at ₹3 crore under the SASCI scheme (FY 2022-23) .
The SASCI scheme sanctioned 26 projects for Manipur under the Union Ministry of Finance .
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Friday, 24 July participated in religious observances at the historic Shri Govindaji Temple in Imphal on the occasion of Purna Jatra (Kanglen), offering prayers to Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra for peace, unity, and prosperity across all communities in the conflict-affected state. Earlier in the day, he also inaugurated a newly constructed District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) building and an Ima Market at Salam in Imphal West district.
Purna Jatra Observances at Shri Govindaji Temple
Purna Jatra, locally called Kanglen, marks the formal conclusion of the annual 10-day Kang Chingba (Rath Yatra) festival. It mirrors the grand chariot-pulling ceremony of the opening day, symbolising the return and final rites of the three deities. The Chief Minister attended the ceremonies in the presence of Maharaja and former Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba and a large gathering of devotees.
Posting on his official X handle, Khemchand Singh said: 'Today, on the auspicious occasion of Purna Jatra (Kanglen), I felt sanctified to participate in the religious services of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra at Shri Govindaji Temple in the presence of Maharaja and former Rajya Sabha MP Shri Leishemba Sanajaoba, amid a large number of devotees.' He added: 'I offer my prayers for a peaceful and prosperous Manipur, where unity and order prevail among all communities. May everyone be blessed with peace and the spirit of non-violence.'
Rath Yatra is one of India's most widely celebrated Hindu festivals, observed prominently in Odisha, West Bengal, and several Northeastern states. The return procession — known as 'Ulto Rath' in many parts of India — culminates the festivities. In Manipur, this concluding journey carries particular resonance given the ethnic tensions that have gripped the state over the past two years.
DIET Building Inaugurated at Salam
The newly constructed DIET building at Salam, Imphal West, was inaugurated by the Chief Minister earlier in the day. The facility has been built at an approved cost of ₹4.47 crore under the Samagra Shiksha (Teacher Education) scheme, with funds sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Education and released to the Education Engineering Wing for execution.
The Union Ministry of Education has approved the establishment of 16 DIET Centres across Manipur — one in each of the state's 16 districts. Of these, nine centres are currently operational, while the remaining are at various stages of construction and operationalisation. The Chief Minister acknowledged the role of local MLA Sorokhaibam Rajen Singh in securing the DIET Centre for Salam within Imphal West district.
Ima Market: Boost for Women-Led Commerce
The Chief Minister also inaugurated the newly built Ima Market — an all-women market — at Salam. The facility has been constructed at a cost of ₹3 crore, approved by the Union Ministry of Finance as one of 26 projects sanctioned for Manipur under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme for the financial year 2022-23. The Chief Minister credited the Planning Department for maintaining high construction standards in delivering the market.
The Ima Market is a centuries-old institution in Manipur, traditionally run entirely by women traders and considered one of the largest all-women markets in Asia. The new facility at Salam extends that tradition to a wider catchment area in Imphal West.
Significance Amid Ongoing Tensions
The Chief Minister's dual engagement — religious and developmental — on the same day carries symbolic weight. Manipur has been under severe ethnic stress since May 2023, and official gestures emphasising communal harmony have become a recurring feature of state-level public events. Khemchand Singh expressed confidence that Salam would witness rapid development in the coming years, with the two new facilities expected to significantly benefit the local population.
Following the inaugurations, the Chief Minister inspected the infrastructure and amenities at both the DIET building and the Ima Market. How quickly the remaining seven DIET centres are operationalised across the state will be a key indicator of the government's delivery on its education commitments.
Point of View
Manipur's teacher-training infrastructure remains half-built years after sanction — and the pace of completion of the remaining seven will matter far more than any single inauguration. The Ima Market extension is welcome, but the institution's deeper challenge has always been supply-chain access and post-conflict footfall, neither of which a new building alone resolves.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Purna Jatra (Kanglen) celebrated in Manipur?
Purna Jatra, locally known as Kanglen, marks the formal conclusion of the annual 10-day Kang Chingba (Rath Yatra) festival in Manipur. It mirrors the grand chariot-pulling ceremony of the opening day, symbolising the return and final rites of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra.
What is the DIET building inaugurated by the Manipur CM at Salam?
The District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) building at Salam, Imphal West, is a teacher-training facility constructed at an approved cost of ₹4.47 crore under the Samagra Shiksha scheme, funded by the Union Ministry of Education. The Ministry has approved 16 such centres across Manipur's 16 districts, of which nine are currently operational.
What is the Ima Market and why is it significant?
The Ima Market is a traditional all-women market, a centuries-old institution in Manipur and one of the largest of its kind in Asia. The new facility at Salam was built at ₹3 crore under the SASCI scheme (FY 2022-23) and extends this tradition to a wider area of Imphal West district.
What is the SASCI scheme under which the Ima Market was built?
The Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) is a Union Ministry of Finance scheme that provides capital project funding to states. For Manipur, 26 projects were sanctioned under the scheme for FY 2022-23, of which the Ima Market at Salam is one.
Why did the Manipur CM pray for peace at the Purna Jatra event?
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh used the Purna Jatra occasion to call for unity, harmony, and non-violence among all communities in Manipur. The state has been under significant ethnic tension since May 2023, making public appeals for communal peace a recurring feature of official events.
