Manipur Inaugurates Three-Day Festival to Promote GI-Tagged Hathei Chilli

The 14th Sirarakhong Hathei Chilli Festival was inaugurated in Sirarakhong Village, Ukhrul district on 15th September 2025. The festival glorifies the GI-tagged Hathei Chilli, which has a distinctive smell and taste. The first day's events were flag hoisting, cultural performance, Buyer-Seller Meet for local farmers. The festival showcases Manipur in its attempt to market local agricultural produce such as the Hathei Chilli and Tamenglong Orange which are GI-tagged. There was also an event of the tree plantation drive as a part of the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam program.

Key Points in Detail

Festival Overview

• Festival: 14th Sirarakhong Hathei Chilli Festival.

• Place: Sirarakhong Village, Ukhrul District, Manipur.

• Duration: 3 Days

• Objective: The advertisement of the GI-tagged hathei chilli (Sirarakhong Chilli).

Festivities

• Ceremonial Hoisting Flags: Ceremonial beginning of the festival.

• Cultural Performances: The rich heritage of the Tangkhul Naga tribe.

• Buyer- Seller Meet: To provide economic opportunities to the local farmers to enable them link with buyers of their products.

• Tree Plantation Drive: This was organized as part of the countrywide program called Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam in a bid to ensure environmental sustainability.

Significance of the GI-Tag

• GI-Tagged Products: The festival showcases Sirarakhong Hathei Chilli and Tamenglong Orange which were both GIs, meaning that there is no other product of the same kind and it is significant to the economy of the area.

• Folk Song: A folk song about the Hathei Chilli records the value of this shade as compared to the precious Khuilang shawl of the Tangkhul Naga people.

Tamenglong Orange

• Origin: It is cultivated in Tamenglong district only.

• Health Benefits: Phytochemicals and potassium rich which help prevent cancer and heart diseases.

• GI-Tag: The product that is considered to be distinctive in the area, also referred to as an orange bowl of Manipur.

Additional GI-Tagged Product.

• Black Rice (Chak-Hao): In 2020, Black Rice, a variety of rice that is grown in Manipur, was given a GI tag, becoming yet another part of the state gaining recognition as the producer of unique agricultural products.

Significance of the Festival

• Publicity of the Local Farm Life: The festival also contributes to the economic opportunity of the GI-tagged products such as Hathei Chilli and Tamenglong Orange, which assists the local farmers and increases their market share.

• Cultural and Environmental Activities: Cultural heritage and environmental sustainability are the other areas that the festival can be used to encourage the reporting of the rich cultural heritage of the region and environmental sustainability such as tree plantation.

• Economic Impact: Buyer-Seller meet leads to economic development and empowerment of the agricultural value chain in the area.

Conclusion

One of the initiatives taken to popularize the Manipur agricultural products, including the GI tagged Hathei Chilli and Tamenglong Orange, is the Sirarakhong Hathei Chilli Festival. It is not only boosting economic chances among the local farmers but also it is a celebration of the state 's rich cultural heritage. The festival is an indication of Manipur’s desire towards sustainable development, community empowerment and retention of traditional farming practices.