Social harmony
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 12 2011: The age-old festival of Mera Hou Chongba which signifies the fraternal bond between hill people and plain people was celebrated today with much elan and fanfare under the aegis of Mera Hou Chongba Thousil Lup (Sana Konung and HERICOUN) .

The day long celebration started with presentation of musical prelude at the royal palace.

From the royal palace, a large, colourful procession led by titular king Sanajaoba and comprising of both hill people and plain people who were clad in their traditional attires was taken out till Kangla.

At Kangla, the age-old customary rituals like Mera Men Tongba, Yenkhong Tamba and Yu Pan Thaba were performed.

After performing different cultural programmes at Kangla, all the participants of the festival came back to the royal palace.Then the participants gathered at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen and held a special function.

Village chiefs/Khullakpas coming from different hill villages and village leaders were also present at the function as special guests.

Addressing the gathering, titular king Sanajaoba stated that Mera Hou Chongba is the only common festival which is celebrated by both the hill people and plain people together.

"It is our bounden duty to preserve and promote this highly significant festival so as to strengthen the filial bond between hill people and plain people", Sanajaoba stated.

This highly significant festival is not related with politics in any manner.

Any attempt to bring politics in Mera Hou Chongba festival would be disastrous, the titular king cautioned.

People should understand and defeat the sinister but consistent attempt of a handful of people to distort the fraternal bond shared by hill people and plain people.

Though these handful people have been repeatedly plotting to upset the bond between hills and valley, the age-old fraternal bond remains intact because of people's wisdom and festivals like Mera Hou Chongba, Sanajaoba asserted.

Another important feature of the celebration was exchange of gifts between hill people and plain people.

This was followed by presentation of traditional dance and music by different communities.

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