Mera Chaorel Houba festival begins
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 16 2012: Significance of Mera month in sustaining the hill-valley bond has been highlighted by speakers on the occasion of Mera Chourel Houba festival, which commenced from today along with religious procession, rituals and staging of traditional cultural items at the Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple inside 1st Bn Manipur Rifles complex.

The festival was also held at Uttra Shanglen, Sana Konung (Palace Compound) .

The 1st MR complex event organised by Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Board began with collection of the holy water from Kangla and placing it at the Sanamahi temple, where priests and priestesses performed rites amid rendition of the traditional Pena, a musical instrument associated with religious practices of the Meitei community.

Mera Chourel Houba festival is celebrated to seek blessings of the Almighty for peace and bountiful food grains.

Gracing the occasion as the chief guest, Works Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar Singh emphasised the need for the present generation to understand, honour and practice the tradition and belief of the forefathers to revive the age-old bond between the hill and valley people.

Terming Mera as one of the most important months of rekindling the hill-valley fraternal relationship, he also called upon the people to join in the celebration, which will last for the next few weeks.

At the Sana Konung event, Manipur's titular king Leishemba Sanajaoba conveyed that the festival is celebrated over a period of 10 day from the first day of Mera month till Kwak Tanba (Dusherra).

During the 10-day festival, exchange of gifts and sharing of feast between the hill and valley people highlight the importance of the festival in promoting and sustaining the age-old relationship.

He also described as unfortunate some elements continuously trying to create divisions in the Manipur society by playing the ethnic cards.

Comment