Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 30 2009:
Unlike in the past, the celebration of Mera Hou Chongba participated jointly by the hill and the valley people of Manipur this year is going to be a low key affair in view of the prevailing situation in the State.
Announcing this during a press conference at Uttra Sanglen, president of Mera Hou Chongba Thousil Lup Lalchand Chenglei said that Mera Houchongba is an important festival of both the hill and the valley people which is being celebrated on the day of full moon of Mera every year since time immemorial.
Religious rituals and merry making being the main features, the celebration is always presided over by the king.
It is meaningless to celebrate Mera Hou Chongba without the presence of the king, Chenglei said, while explaining that Mera Houchongba is one of the important ritualistic events performed in a year for the welfare of the people.
However, this time apart from performing the associated religious rituals, no entertainment programmes would be arranged in view of the prevailing situation in the State, Chenglei informed.
Convenor of Mera Hou Chongba Thousil Committee M Doren who was also present during the press conference informed that the celebration was held for five days last year.
But this year it would be held for only one day on October 4, he said, while appealing to all the individuals and organisations to restrain from calling bandh and general strike with effect from October 2 .
Doren further said that use of an e-mail account [email protected] in connection with the ongoing public movement in the State is very unfortunate and clarified that Sana-konung has no such websites or e-mail addresses .