Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 06:
The most prominent festival of the Maring ethnic group� Khong-Kaap was celebrated since yesterday at the ancient Maring village of Khudei Khullen under Tengnoupal sub-division of Chandel district.
The festival participated by Maring people belonging to different villages concluded today.
The festival is celebrated once in every five year in the Manipuri calendar month of Kalen.
The opening function of the festival was graced by SSO of Telecom Department DK Medun as chief guest and social worker W Charanga as president.
The opening function was marked by presentation of traditional dances by Maring cultural troupes and rendition of customary hymns in honour of the Maring ancestors.
Later the chief guest opened an edifice devoted to Lord Pakhangba followed by offering of prayers by the villagers.
In accordance to Maring customary rituals, Maring village chiefs shot arrows at a deity of Lord Pakhangba followed by the villagers.
Shooting of arrows to the deity was a necessary ritual of the festival as Marings have an age-old belief that they can forecast whether it would be prosperous or miserable in the next five years according to the spot of the deity where the arrows hit.
With most of the arrows striking at the stomach of the deity on the opening day of the festival yesterday, the Marings believe that the next five years will be prosperous for the Maring group.
The Khudei Khullen village, believed to be the place of origin for Marings, is at present inhabited by 63 clans with a total population of 600.