Candlelight Vigil for Fallen Kuki-Zo, Lamkol Marks Christmas Conclusion in Kangpokpi

The final day of the Christmas celebrations in strife-hit Kangpokpi district of Manipur was observed with deep solemnity and reflection, as members of the Kuki-Zo community organised a candlelight vigil to pay tribute to the victims of the ongoing ethnic conflict that has gripped the region for months.

At L. Songtun village in Kangpokpi district, villagers gathered after the church’s evening worship service to remember the lives lost in the violence. The tribute programme was led by Lamminlun Singsit, Joint Secretary of the Committee on Tribal Unity, who, along with community elders, youths, and church leaders, highlighted the significance of remembrance, unity, and resilience during a season traditionally associated with peace and hope.

Kuki-Zo Village Volunteers led the ceremonial proceedings by offering a traditional tribute in honour of the fallen martyrs. This was followed by a minute of silence, during which participants stood holding lit candles, symbolising both mourning and an enduring hope for justice, peace, and reconciliation. Prayers were also offered for the bereaved families and the Internally Displaced People.

The candlelight vigil served as a poignant reminder of the human cost of the ongoing unrest, particularly for families displaced from their homes and communities living under continued uncertainty. CoTU Joint Secretary Lamminlun Singsit underscored the need to uphold the dignity and memory of those who lost their lives, while appealing for sustained solidarity within the Kuki-Zo community.

Alongside the solemn observances, a night-long social and spiritual get-together was held in most churches across the district, bringing together members of the Kuki-Zo Christian community in fellowship and prayer. Congregants sang traditional Christmas hymnals, shared moments of collective worship, and participated in the symbolic Lamkol dance, expressing faith, unity, and cultural identity. The gatherings, marked by simplicity and reverence, symbolically signalled the conclusion of the Christmas celebrations, blending spiritual reflection with communal bonding in the face of adversity.

People of all ages and walks of life—young and old, men and women, boys and girls—came together with great enthusiasm to participate in the symbolic Lamkol dance, reflecting a shared spirit of unity, joy and collective cultural expression.

The final day of the Christmas celebrations was marked by the performance of Lamkol, a symbolic traditional Kuki-Zo Christmas dance. Performed by villagers in traditional attire, the dance reflected themes of faith, cultural identity, and collective endurance, even as the community continues to face hardship.

At Kholep village, the Lamkol dance was organised on an unprecedented scale, emerging as one of the grandest and most elaborate performances of the traditional Christmas dance in the region. Hundreds of church members, dressed uniformly in traditional attire, participated in the synchronised dance, collectively bidding a heartfelt farewell to the Christmas celebrations in a display of unity, faith and cultural pride.

Meanwhile, at Denglen village in the Saikul region, the Christmas celebrations witnessed the participation of local MLA Kimneo Hangshing, who joined church leaders and congregants in the observance. The legislator also took part in the symbolic Lamkol dance, underscoring a shared spirit of solidarity and togetherness with the community during the festive occasion.

Despite the prevailing turmoil, the observance of Christmas in Kangpokpi district combined cultural expression with solemn remembrance, underscoring the community’s resolve to preserve its traditions while honouring the sacrifices of its people and praying for lasting peace in the region.