Mail News Service NNN
Imphal, Oct 29 : Mera Hou Chongba a festival of unity was celebrated participated by all the communities settled in Manipur. The age old celebration was marked with exchange of gifts between different communities.
The function began with a colourful rally taken out from Kangla in the afternoon participated by representatives of different communities settled in Manipur attired in their traditional dresses.
The festival reminds us of love , brotherhood and unity among the people of the hills and the plains and the festival earlier celebrated at Kangla where people from different communities dine together and celebrate.
The main function of the festival was held at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen, Palace Compound in Imphal. The celebration was jointly organized under the auspices of Mera Houchongba Thoushil Lup, Sana Konung and Ethno Heritage Council (HERICOUN).
Earlier in the morning, the religious function of Mera Mentongba and Yenkhongtamba, part of the festival were also held at Kangla fort before the main function at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen began.
Titular king of Manipur Leishemba Sanajaoba expressed disappointment over the sharp decline of participation of the hill people in the Mera Houchongba festival and pointed out politics as the main reason behind it.
Leishemba Sanajaoba was speaking on the occasion during which he also stated that the extensive drop in number of participants from the hills of the state has created a bad feeling over a possible ending of the age-old practice.
He further made a strong appeal to the people to consider the festival as a non-political festival as long as the co-existence of the hill and the valley continues to survive.King Sanajaoba reminisced that in the distance past that the hill people would invite the valley people in the hill and enjoy ‘Mera Chakkouba’ after the latter invited to the Mera Houchongba. It was also a tradition to present gifts to the valley by the hill.
He said this tradition has no longer existed now and expressed his strong desire to revive it. However, he said he feels frustrated to learn that participation of the hill brethren in Mera Houchongba festival has extensively declined and cited many reasons, primarily politics in pointing out the real reasons behind it. Such decrease in the participation has created a fear of a possible abolition of the festival, Sanajaoba said.
People from the hills including the village heads from the districts like Senapati, Chandel and Ukhrul attended on the occasion. Exchange of gifts between the people of the hills and the valley was the main highlight of the festival. Eye-catching cultural performances of songs and dances of various ethnic groups enthralled the gathering.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/call-for-unity-echoes-during-mera-hou-chongba-celebrations/
