'Ithei Khong Phatpa' ritual held at Ithei Marum dam
Source: Chronicle News Service

Kakching, October 17 2024: The traditional annual ritual of 'Ithei Khong Phatpa', a long-standing practice among the people of Kakching to divert irrigation water before the harvesting season, was held on Thursday at Ithei Marum Dam.

The ritual event included offering prayers for bountiful harvest and adequate irrigation water for the upcoming season.

Organised by Kakching Ithei Committee, the event focused on channelling water from the irrigation canals back into the Shengmai River, ensuring the fields are adequately drained before the harvest.

The canals, which serve around 10,000 hectares of agricultural land, were cleared during the ceremony to ensure smooth flow of water from the Ithei Maru pick-up weir, built over the Shengmai River.

Kakching MLA Mayanglambam Rameshwar, Kakching Ithei Committee president Yengkhom Achouba, and secretary Kshetrimayum Ramcharan, along with other committee members, participated in the event.

According to Achouba, the pick-up weir plays a crucial role in the irrigation of farmlands in the area.

As the harvesting season nears, diverting the water from the canals into the river helps drain excess water, creating optimal conditions for the harvest, he explained and appealed to locals to refrain from fishing activities that could damage the canals.

MLA Rameshwar informed the gathering about the government's efforts to reinforce the banks of the Shengmai River.

He noted that the Water Resources Department is working on a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for this purpose and that discussions with the Kakching Ithei Committee are ongoing regarding the repair of the Ithei Khong Maril canal.

In a lively tradition accompanying the ritual, women from the Meetei and Maring communities flocked to the canals for fishing, turning the day into a festive event.

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