Mera Hou Chongba: Hill-plain ties reaffirmed
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, October 18 2013 : Along with exchanging gifts between the hill and plain people to reaffirm their age-old fraternal bonding, the annual Mera Hou Chongba festival was celebrated with traditional gaiety and much fanfare at different parts of the State today.

The main celebration was held under the aegis of Mera Hou Chongba Thousil Lup of Sana Konung at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen at Palace Compound here.

Apart from titular king Leishemba Sanajaoba, many important personalities coming from different parts of the State and beyond were present on the occasion, during which people from the hill and the plain exchanged gifts.

Chiefs and villagers belonging to various tribes/groups like Mao, Maram, Maring, Tangkhul, Kabui, Zeme, Liangmei, Tarao, Chiru, Kom, Kharam, Haokip, Gangte, Paite, etc also made offering of whatever they brought from their respective places to the titular king.

Mera Hou Chongba: Hill-plain ties reaffirmed

The celebration of the annual festival that has withstood the test of time on the inalienable bond between the hill and the valley brethren commenced since early morning with everyone gathering at the Sana Konung, from where they proceeded to the sacred Kangla along with the titular king and members of Royal Council.

At Kangla, the Maibas and Amaibis (priests and priestesses) performed the rituals of Kangla Mentongba and lit up Mera Thoumei (the lamp of Mera) .

Later on, senior Maiba Ngameichung of Mahabali Kabui Khul performed the traditional rites and rituals of Yenkhong Tamba and Yupan Thaba to predict the fortune of the State in the days to come.

Announcing the prediction after the rituals, Ngameichung said that although there would not be any serious problem like outbreak of war or fighting in the State, the current year would be one dominant by women.

All all these rituals, everyone again returned to Sana Konung.

The main celebration of Mera Hou Chongba began from 3 pm at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen with titular king Leishemba Sanajaoba presided over it.

Speaking on the occasion, Leishemba Sanajaoba expressed unhappiness over the conduct of the State administration which has not extended any kind of assistance towards organising such an important festival like Mera Hou Chongba for the last many decades.

Instead of that, the State administration is trying to take over Sana Konung, which has been playing an important role in the preservation of the culture and tradition of the land and its people.

The titular king said that such insensitive attitude of the State administration made him so sad that at times he felt like dying.

"Even today, the State administration denied the permission for entering Kangla from the western gate for the performance of rites and rituals and insisted that the entry should be made from the southern gate which is traditionally believed to be the gate of the death.

Performing rites and rituals for the welfare of the State after entering from the southern gate would have been ominous.

So, it was after much persuasion that the permission was given for entering Kangla from the northern side.

In case, the permission to enter from western gate is not given next time, then Sana Konung would take up necessary action and challenge it", Leishemba Sanajaoba warned.

The titular king went on to inform the gathering that apart from performances of dances and songs, various indigenous games and sports were part of the Mera Hou Chongba celebration.

Sana Konung was making preparation for continuation of this tradition when the State administration announced its decision of taking over Sana Konung.

In the confrontation that followed, all these preparations could not be finalised.

Convenor of Mera Hou Chongba Thousil Lup, Sana Konung Mutum Churamani asserted that denial of permission to the titular king to enter Kangla from the western gate has shown that the State administration is not at all concerned about the welfare of the State and its people.

So, it deserved strong condemnation from the side of the people as well.

Churamani also expressed desire on the part of all concerned to make films, video albums, dramas, shumang leelas or write songs on Mera Hou Chongba for better understanding of its true essence especially among the younger generation.

The celebration of Mera Hou Chongba came alive to the performance of dances and songs by various cultural troupes belonging to different communities/tribes.

On the other hand, along with organising the the 84th Mera Thabum Meepham of Apokpa Marup at the Shanglen of Ibudhou Korouhanba and Ibendhou Thambal Leikai at Moidangpok in Imphal West district from today, gifts were exchanged between the hill and the valley people today to reaffirm their inalienable bonding on the occasion of Mera Hou Chongba.

The event was hosted by Lok Sabha MP Dr T Meinya.

At the border town of Moreh in Chandel district of Manipur, Mera Hou Chongba was celebrated for the second consecutive year under the aegis of Moreh Meitei Lai Thougal Kanglup at its Sanglen.

Exchange of gifts between the hill and the valley people and presentation of cultural programmes were the main highlight of the celebration attended by many people.

At the end of the celebration, a grand feasting was arranged and it was partake by everyone present.