Ties of people stressed on Mera Hou Chongba
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 08 2014:
As celebrated since time immemorial, the festival of Mera Hou Chongba, which reminds the inalienable bond between hill and valley people, was celebrated at different parts of the State today.
During a grand celebration, organised by Mera Hou Chongba Thousil Lup at Royal Palace, vegetables, fruits, eatables and sweetmeats were distributed and exchanged among hill and valley people after offering it traditionally to titular King Leishemba Sanajaoba.
Mera Hou Chongba Thousil Lup co-convenor Thounaojam Nando said that it is the biggest traditional festival of the State which is jointly celebrated by hill and valley people.
After the monetary aid provided to the king by the Government was discontinued during the reign of King Pareihanba (Okendrajit), the festival could not be celebrated in a grand manner for some years as the financial position of the Royal Palace became weak.
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However, the festival started reviving in 1994, he said and added that Mera Hou Chongba Thousil Lup of Royal Palace started organising the festival from 2002 in association with various civil society organisations.
Apart from interior areas of the State, the festival was organised in neighbouring States like Assam and Tripura with Karbi, Dimasa and Bodo people.
Titular King Leishemba Sanajaoba while speaking at the occasion said that the festival is significant as apart from exchanging gifts and pleasantries, both people of hill and valley offer prayers to the God for peaceful and harmonious coexistence at the occasion.
The festival is celebrated on the full moon day of Manipuri lunar calendar month Mera after ritual ceremonies are conducted from the first day of Mera, he added.
Saying that it is encouraging to organise the festival at different parts of the State, Leishemba Sanajaoba urged the organisers not to forget the ritual ceremonies apart from exchanging gifts.
After titular King Leishemba Sanajaoba and 92-year-old YL Yarngam of Ukhrul district exchanged gifts and pleasantries, people of hill and valley exchanged gifts at the celebration.