Mera Houchongba : Symbol of unity between the hill and valley people

KT. Riniwar *

Mera Houchongba , re-affirming close bond and ties between hill and valley people at Kangla on 18 October 2013
Pix - Gnet Cyber Cafe

Mera Houchongba, the lone state festival, being organized and observed every year to uphold the age-old closely relation between the brothers and sisters in the hill and valley, is a undoubtedly symbol of unity between these two groups of indigenous people of Manipur.

Right from my stay in this capital, Imphal i.e. from 2007, reading Class-III at L.F.S., I have heard and seen many sort of festivals being observed by different tribes and people of this state, like – Lui-Ngai-Ni festival of the Nagas, Kut-festival of the Kukis, Gaan-Ngai of Kabuis, Ningol Chakkouba, Yaoshang and Cheiraoba of Meiteis, etc. But these all are celebrated and observed separately by different tribes and people in different districts on different days and time.

To my great surprise, there have been no festival jointly organized state-wide where people from both hill and the valley equally participate and share the joy of festivity together except "Mera Houchongba". It is indeed a rare festival of Manipur.

Fortunately, I happened to witness this interesting festival. In fact, it was an exciting scene to enjoy this festival last year with my friends. The moment I witnessed such interesting cultural dances and songs performed by various dance troupes, the much talked about "Ching-Tam Amatani" frequently heard and seen on newspapers or heard on radio was really activated in practical scene.

Apart from exchange of various cultural activities between the people of the hill and valley, represented by different dance groups, I could also store up many precious sources of facts and information relating to the close relationship of the fore-fathers of the hill and valley in olden days, through speeches made by many speakers on the said occasion.

From that memorable day of "Mera Houchongba" which I enjoyed a lot last year, I do frankly express to my classmate and other Meitei friends, "We are really one people from the same parents or family. Unity in diversity is known to be the common and great slogan of great leader of our country. Irrespective of differences in languages, colour, caste, sex, religion, culture, custom, etc., there should be at least one common platform where all the people, especially (hill and valley), could come together, sit together, share together and reason together.

Only when we gather together, exchange our views, opinions, joys, sorrows, differences and disparities, etc., unity in diversity can be achieved. This is all possible because of this festival. Absence of a common festival means absence of unity between the hill and valley people, because there is no other alternative other than this festival.

This festival is really a source of inspiration to recollect our past forefathers' closeness and relations.

Hence, thanks to the founding members who started organising this festival, because no other festival can bring unity the hill and valley people so closely. So, let us encourage, uphold, support and donate generously towards organizing and making this festival, a grand success every year, to bring unity, integrity and brotherhood-feeling between the hill and valley people today and for all times to come.

Long Live Mera Houchongba.