'Saroi Khangba' performed at Ahongpung with SF cover
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 16 2024:
As did every year on the first Saturday of the Meetei Lunar calendar month of Lamda, the traditional ritual locally called Saroi Khangba' was performed at the disputed Khurai Ahongpung in Imphal East on Saturday under heavy security cover.
Khurai Ahongpung being a disputed site, BSF and police personnel are guarding the area round the clock to prevent unwanted incident.
Though local people initially opposed performance of 'Saroi Khangba' ritual at the sacred site, a team of Imphal East police persuaded the locals and the ritual was performed without any hitch later as an understanding was reached.
Accordingly, many people gathered at the site to offer prayer and among them was National People's Youth Front president Laitonjam Jayananda.
Representatives of the Sana Konung also came and performed rituals at the sacred site.
Male and female priests of Manipur Pandit Loishang performed rituals to appease the evil spirits.
After performing the ritual, Manipur Pandit Loishang Pandit Ngariyanbam Khomba told media persons that disturbance to conducting yearly rituals at the site began in 1971.However, construction of different temples began at the disputed site year after year.
In the year 1972, there was only Durga Mandir at the site but one Shiv Mandir was added and now Santoshi Ma Mandir has been added and one community hall has also been constructed.
From the year 1990, Meetei cannot enter the site and even disallowed to perform rituals with Sareng fish, Ngariyanbam Khomba said.