Devotees can reach shrine of Khwairakpa Irel Umanglai in less time from Jiribam: KELESSL
Source: The Sangai Express
Jiribam, January 12 2019:
Devotees of Khwairakpa Irel Umanglai Khuvam and Leima Irel Ningsing Khuvam, which is a sacred shrine for the people of Manipur, situated on a small island in the Barak river at the border of Cachar (Assam) and Jiribam (Manipur), can reach the sacred shrine without taking much time if they take the tour from the Jiribam side from this year onward to attain and worship the annual festival of Khwairakpa Irel Umanglai Khuvam and Leima Irel Ningsing Khuvam, said Dr Chandam Kamal Singh, president Khwairakpa Erel and Leima Erel Semgat Sagat Lup (KELESSL), Jiribam in a press meet held at the press conference hall of Jiri News Network (JNN) today at 8 am.
Th Somorendra Singh, general secy, KELESSL, Jiribam and M Romeo Singh, publicity secy, KELESSL, Jiribam also attended the press meet.
In the press meet, Dr Chandam Kamal Singh further said that thousands of devotees thronged the sacred shrine located on a small island in the Barak river since the time people migrated to settle in Cachar (Assam) to avoid the persecution by Awa (Burmese) during seven years devastation and added that the devotees took a journey of 15 km from Jiribam to Fulertal in Cachar (Assam) and then traveled another 8 km by waterways on Barak river to reach the historic shrine to offer their tributes.
However, worshippers from Jiribam and Imphal can reach the said shrine in 10 minutes from Jiri Mukh in Jiribam on a waterway to pay their offerings from this year onward, he added.
Th Somorendra Singh, general secy, KELESSL said that the annual festival of Khwairakpa Erel Umanglai Khubam is held every year on second Sunday of the month of Wakening (January 20 this year) and the devotees earlier have to travel to Fulartel in Cachar (Assam) from Jiribam and then travel another 3-4 hours by waterways on Barak river to reach the holy place, but from this year onward the travel time will take only 10 minutes from Jiri Mukh by waterways to reach the historic shrine.
He continued that the road at Jiri Mukh was in dilapidated condition earlier but now the condition of the road has improved and all kinds of vehicles including two wheelers, heavy vehicles etc can be driven on the said road.
As such, people of Manipur can come and worship at the sacred shrine from Jiri Mukh in Jiribam without taking much time.
It may be mentioned that on December 21 last year, a team comprising SP Jiribam District Police M Mubi Singh (MPS), Addl SP H Basulal Singh (MPS), president Khwairakpa Erel Umanglai Ngaksellup Assam Asangbam Gourgopal Singha, vice-president Sagapam Biren Singha, general secy Nambam Sharatdhan Singha, advisor Oinam Brajabidhu Singha, M Brajakanta Singh, president Jiribam Olympic Assn Jiribam Th Kumbha Meetei, president Meetei Inat Thougal Lup Jiribam Dr Ch Kamal Singh, Lifetime president Jananeta Irawat Memorial Trust (JIMET) Jiribam K Khumanjao Singh, VP JIMET Jiribam M Hemata Mangang, general secy Meetei Inat Thougal Lup Jiribam M Romeo Singh, media persons Th Somorendra Singh Chandrapur Jiribam inspected the area in and around Jiribam to Jiri Mukh and came to know that it will take much lesser time to reach the Khwairakpa Erel Umang Lai Khubam if a route is developed in the area.
As a result, Khwairakpa Erel and Leima Erel Semgat Sagat Lup was formed to formulate a mechanism to provide a shorten route for the devotees while visiting the said shrine.