Innampei Lin festival celebrated
Source: The Sangai Express
Bishnupur, February 15 2019:
The third session of Innampei Lin festival which is one of the most important festival of Chothe tribe began today at Lamlanghuppi Chothe in ward no 12, Bishnupur Municipal Council while young girls and boys presented cultural dance and traditional songs during the function.
Innampei Lin (post-harvest or pre-seed sowing festival) is celebrated for seven days annually in the months of February/
March (Phiren-Lamta) .
During the festival, the elders visit the members' houses and inspect their finest wine and daughters to establish matrimonial relationship.
The significance of this pre-seed sowing festival is that it celebrates in accolade of the unmarried girls by their parents to acknowledge their adulthood.
This festive season provides people to familiarise the maidens and propose them as daughter-in-laws or as wife during their evening visits.
The Innampeilin festival is divided into three parts: (1) Zutuishutpa (filtering/extraction of the wine - Monday and Tuesday), (2) The Innampeilin (family feast - Wednesday and Thursday), and (3) Bampuijairikhongpa (youth holding for the night - Friday and Sunday) .
Each member of the Village Council that is the three Bungkungs (housesor units) played a very important role and responsibilities assigned during this festival.
Traditionally, the three political houses conduct their gathering at their respective outposts.
For the Council of Elders, it is organised at village chiefs residence.
The place where the elders hosted for feast is known as Lomtun.
The members of matured adults hosted in Pakhanglakpa's residence.
For the celebration, every pipa (the lineage or clan heads) of the village i.e.Council of Elders (Urinta) prepares the fermented husk rice beer one month in advance.
The Chothe festival composes many formalities and ceremonies in their social relationship that signifies their rich culture and high civilisation.