Imphal: After a four-year break, the 13th Sirarakhong Chilli (Hathei) Festival is set to take place from August 29 to 30, 2024, in Sirarakhong village, Ukhrul district.
The two-day festival is expected to draw visitors from across the district and state, generating significant revenue for local farmers. The unique long, stark-red Hathei chilli, known for its distinct taste and color, is native to Sirarakhong village, located around 67 km from Imphal.
Since 2009, Sirarakhong village has celebrated the Hathei festival annually to promote this indigenous chilli variety, prized for its rich flavor. The Hathei, which grows over eight inches in length, is also rich in vitamin C and calcium.
Over the years, the Sirarakhong Hathei has gained popularity beyond Manipur, and the village’s 300 households primarily cultivate this chilli as a key source of income.
According to Ezra Zimik, Secretary of the Sirarakhong Hathei Promotion Committee, the festival was put on hold in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the Sirarakhong Hathei earned a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, affirming its originality and uniqueness. However, the festival remained on pause due to an error in the GI title, which was corrected in May 2024 from “Hathei-Chilli, Manipur” to “Sirarakhong Hathei.”
As per the village assembly’s revised pricing, one kilo of fresh Sirarakhong Hathei will be sold for Rs 200 during the festival, while the dried variant will be priced at Rs 1,000 wholesale. Additionally, 100-gram packets of dried chilli powder will be available for Rs 130 wholesale.
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