Pre-harvest festival of Chothe community celebrated
Source: Chronicle News Service
Kakching, October 28 2022:
Emphasising on the need for promoting indigenous culture and tradition, Tipaimukh MLA Nguranglur Senate has said that renouncing culture and tradition of our forefathers while embracing another religion will lead to downfall of the community.
Speaking as chief guest of the 9th edition of Shabu Hong Rien - 2022, the pre-harvest festival of Chothe community celebrated at Purum Khullen (Chothe Hupi) village in Chandel district on Friday, the MLA observed how different communities renounced their indigenous culture and tradition after adopting Christianity and expressed concern over the consequences.
As a result, the younger generations are no longer familiar with their indigenous culture and tradition.
It will lead to the downfall of the community's identity, he said while stressing the need for upholding and promoting them for future' generations.
He also stressed the need for better communication and cordial relationship among the indigenous communities for a united Manipur.
In order to have better communication, every individual in the state needs to know Manipuri language, which is the lingua franca of the state.
People in the hill areas face many hardships due to lack of knowledge of Manipuri language, he noted and informed that he had instructed intending candidates of the forthcoming ADC election to learn Manipuri language.
Purum Khullen village chief Ansai Thaokung said that Shabu Hong Rien is one of the seven important festivals of Chothe community.
These festivals predated Christianity and have been in practice since the community worshipped Pakhangba Nungyungba.
As part of the festival, which is celebrated by offering prayers for a good harvest and prosperity, two male members from Thao Hulpu and Leipu households offer livers of pig on a banana leaf and cut them with Paya (thin bamboo strip) .
The ritual is performed to predict which locality will have the best harvest for the year, he said.
As per tradition, son-in laws of the nine clans of Chothe community - Khiangte, Makan, Thao, Makante, Yulhung, Rangsai, Parpa, Rimphunchong and Rimkung, will visit their wives' maternal homes and bind a bunch of paddy crops to the pillar of the houses to inform about the upcoming harvest season.
They will say prayer for a good harvest while binding the paddy bunch.
Later, they will enjoy a feast with the elders of the clan and harvesting can begin only after the festival, the MLA elaborated.
ADC Chandel executive officer Seiminthang Lenthang, village elders of Chothe villages and CSO leaders participated in the festival.
Grand feast and cultural dances were the other highlights of the festival.