Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, October 08 2010:
The age-old traditional ceremony of Manipur, Mera Chaoren Houba, which is annually celebrated on the first day of Mera, a month in Meetei lunar calendar, was celebrated at the Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple at Hayingkhongban near the campus of 1st Battalion Manipur Rifles here.
As usual, the ceremony was organised by Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Board.
As part of the ceremony, in the early morning Pena Yakairol was rendered at the Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple, and holy water was fetched in a pitcher of Ima Leimarel from Nungjreng Pukhree located in Kangla.
In the afternoon, religeous rites and prayer along with lighting of holy lamps were held.
A large number of Sanamahi devotees offered fresh vegetables, fruits, etc.
to Lainingthou Sanamahi.
Irengbam Lukhoi, president of Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Board, while speaking on the occasion, retold that Mera Chaoren Houba ceremony has been celebrated every year since time immemorial when King Kangba reigned.
The ceremony is held on the first day of Mera when it is neither very hot nor very cold, and continues till the 15th of the month with Mera Men Tongba.
Once upon a time, before the British occupied Manipur, the people of the hills and the valley used to celebrate the day together and performed ceremonies to worship Lainingthou Sanamahi together.
Mera Chaoren Houba is a major festival held in the month of Mera.
The people of the hills bring fresh crops, vegetables, fruits, etc.
and offered to the King of Manipur, enjoyed entertaintments and partook feast thus strengthening the bond of love and brotherhood between the peoples of the valley and the hills, the octogenarian said.