Golden jubilee of Hungpung Dhareo Leingapha celebrated
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 12 2014: The golden jubilee of the very significant festival of Hungpung village called Dhareo was celebrated at Mini Stadium Dangrei in Ukhrul today.

The festival was opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony by the chief guest of the function, CM Paul Ningkhalem, Assistant Director Sericulture, Government of Manipur.

During the festival, the people of Hungpung area brought their home grown vegetables along with meat and poultry which were put on sale.

People from the neighbouring villages also came and celebrated the festival with fanfare.

Speaking at the occasion as the chief guest of the function Paul Ningkhalem said that the festival 'Hungpung Dhareo Leingapha' was started by twelve elders on October 10, 1964 at Hungpung village.

The celebration of the festival is based on the cultural history of Hungpung, a culture before the coming of Christian religion in the area.

Golden jubilee of Hungpung Dhareo Leingapha celebrated

It used to give an opportunity to the people of the area to exhibit and sell their home grown fruits, vegetables including meat and poultry in a special marketset to be a barter place for local populace of the area.

The market also provided an opportunity to the people to get to know each other.

During the festival, the people of Hungpung offered their newly harvested paddy and food products to the deity which was worshipped back then.

Though the market was set for one day in a season, the elders had started the festival to create a bond of love amongst each other and improve the earnings of the people, he added.

He further asserted that presently Manipur is witnessing an increased rate of unemployment.

The people of the State may get an easy way of earning, provided a successful market network is built.

It would not only provide a good means for earning but also help improve the economy of the State.

While speaking about the state of development in Hungpung area, headman of Hungpung AS Wungayung Peter appealed to the State Government to speed up the construction work of the district hospital at Hungpung which was started in 2009.The people of Hungpung are facing a hard time in need of any medical assistance.

During a speech by the first committee member of Hungpung Dhareo, Leingapha YR Ningyui said that the festival was initially celebrated by a group of people known as Mawon-Kazai who resided in Hungpung area.

Later, in 1964 post the adoption of Christianity by the Mawon -Kazais the group unanimously agreed on celebrating the festival every year during the harvest season.

They also resolved to set up a market as a part of the celebration in which the season's harvests and other food products were to be sold.

Appealing to the State Government to ease the hardships faced by the people of Hungpung, a village elder, YS Shimrawung maintained that the road to Hungpung in Ukhrul district is pathetic and needs to be constructed well as the people of Hungpung, during severe medical conditions, need to rush to Imphal for treatment.

He also mentioned that the water supply in Hungpung is inadequate and the Government has not managed to send the replacement teachers after the teachers transferred last had retired way back.

The village people have been running the school by hiring local teachers, he pointed out.