Indigeneity to mark Mera Hou Chongba
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 05 2025: All preparations have been completed for this year's edition of Mera Hou Chongba festival which will be celebrated on October 7 .

Speaking to media persons at the office of Art and Culture, Palace Compound, Mera Hou Chongba Thousil Lup, Sana Konung convenor and Mera Hou Chongba 2025 State Level Organizing Committee member Mutum Maniton said that the Mera Hou Chongba festival will be participated by all indigenous communities of Manipur.

Maniton said that the festival will be presided by titular king Leishemba Sanajaoba and it will be participated by several indigenous communities.

As many as 135 chiefs of different indigenous communities and 15 cultural teams would take part in this year's edition of Mera Hou Chongba, he said.

In addition to cultural items of hill people, cultural dances of Andro and Sugnu would also be presented at the festival.

The festival will be opened with a colourful procession from Sana Konung (royal palace) to Kangla at 8 am on October 7 .

The procession will be led by king Leishemba Sanajaoba and it would be participated by all indigenous communities, reinforcing the age-old bond of fraternity and oneness among all the indigenous communities of Manipur.

After performing traditional and religious rituals like Mera Thaomei Thanba, Mera Yenkhong Tamba etc at Kangla, there will be exchange of gifts between hill people and plain people at 11.30 am.

This would be followed by cultural programmes which will continue till evening, Maniton said.

Earlier, Mera Hou Chongba festival which celebrates the bond of brotherhood between hill people and plain was celebrated at the Sana Konung.

From 2017 onward, the State Government started taking key roles in organising the festival as a State function, he said.

The festival was celebrated with the Chief Minister as the chairman.

As there is no Chief Minister at the moment, the Governor is serving as the Chairman of the State Level Organizing Committee and the Art & Culture Commissioner as the convenor, he said.

He then appealed to all the hill people and the plain people to join the Mera Hou Chongba festival in the spirit of brotherhood and oneness.

Village chiefs, hill people and their cultural troupes who are coming to take part in the Mera Hou Chongba festival would be accorded a warm reception at the Sana Konung on October 6, he added.

Comment