Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, January 08 2009:
THE MEETEI community in and outside Manipur today worshipped Emoinu Ahongbi (the Goddess of wealth and well-being) by lighting streets and homesteads, and offering fresh vegetables to the Goddess inside people's homes and some places specially arranged for the occasion.
It has been a tradition of the Meetei people to worship Imoinu Chak-hong Ngahongbee Eema on the 12th of Wakching month in the Meetei lunar calendar every year for ages.
For many years, worship of the Goddess and observance of the Day were almost forgotten.
But during the last few years, worship of Imoinu Eema has become widespread and virtually gaining the status of a religious festival.
Even the state government had declared the day as a public holiday.
Various special functions were organised by the different civil organisations across at various places.
The Manipur Nganhalba Apunba Lup (Mangal) also organised one such function at Lamdeng Khunou with an objective of becoming.
Manipur a self sustainable state with the blessing of the goddess of the wealth.
Speaking on the occasion as chief guest, MLA W Brajabidhu says when the people have the habit of working hard then the state will become a self
sufficient state.
"When we effort to keep our fields on the year round by way of double or triple cropping only then the objective of worshipping Emoinu Ahongbi will be achieved, he said.
The League of Callow Patriot also organized a function like the previous year at Ningthem Pukhri Mapal where thousands of people of age of all of all ranges converged and offered fresh vegetables and seek blessing from the goddess.
Another function which displayed the idol of the Emoinu Ahongbi was also organized at Yumnam Leikai this evening.