Imphal, October 07: In a clear demonstration of the age old filial relationship among all the ethnic groups of Manipur, the traditional Mera Hou Chongba was celebrated today all over the State with much fanfare and gaiety.

The main features of the celebrations include folk dance and folk music presented by different ethnic groups of the State, exchange of gifts among them and performance of Hou Chongba together in the night.

The main function of the festival was celebrated at Kangla under the joint aegis of the Kangla Fort Board and the Kangla Religious Committee.

Here, the celebration was graced by Minister of Art and Culture Pheiroijam Parijat, MLA RK Theko and MLA Okram Joy as chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.

Speaking on the occasion, Ph Parijat said that the festival based on the filial relationship among the ethnic groups of the State and aimed at promotion of unity and which has been celebrated since ancient time was neglected at one point of time.

Fortunately, with the realisation of the significance and age old value of the festival, people of the State irrespective of ethnicity and religion have joined once again to celebrate Mera Hou Chongba all over the State.

Yet, he reminded that the filiation between the hill and valley people goes back to more than two thousand years.

Saying that the underlying theme of the festival is to endorse the unity among the people of Manipur, the Minister wished that this message reach every nook and cranny of the Manipur.

In his speech, RK Theko observed that exchange of gifts and joint participation in dance and music as a part of the colourful and highly significant Mera Hou Chongba festival stands a clear testimony to the fact that the people of Manipur are bound by a strong bond of love and that such affection would never be lost at any point of time.

The historic festival was also organised by HERICOUN, UPF and IPSA at the royal palace.

The celebration presided by titular king Leishemba Sanajaoba was participated by leaders of different communities and village chiefs of many of hill area villages.

After the customary religious rites like yakairol and laithou houba etc, a religious procession was taken out towards the Kangla.

There customary practices like Mera Men Tongba, Yenkhong Tamba etc were preformed.

Later at the royal palace, cultural programmes were presented by troupes of different ethnic groups after which gifts were exchanged among them.

Speaking on the occasion, assistant general secretary of HERICOUN Mutum Churamani said that the Mera Hou Chongba has been an inevitable festival of the people since the time before the reign of Nongda Lairen Pakhangba.

As such, the festival is one of the oldest festival in the world.

During the time of titular king Okendrajit, the festival was celebrated just for name sake following the suspension of the privy purse granted to the king and the subsequent financial crunch.

Nevertheless, Mera Hou Chongba festival was never skipped completely, noted Churamani.

He further stated that people of hill districts would be invited to join the celebration committee from next year and it would work to rope in representatives of all the indigenous peoples of North East India.

The religion and ethnicity free festival was celebrated for the 10th time at Kakching Khunou under the joint aegis of SEDO Hiyanglam, All Thoubal District United Clubs' Organisation and All Kakching Khunou United Clubs' Organisation.

In a significant development towards spreading of the traditional festival, Mera Hou Chongba was also celebrated at Mapao Keithelmanbi, Senapati district under the joint aegis of the Ngairangbam Village Development Authority and AMESCO.

The celebration at THAU ground was organised by ACOAM-Lup.

The same festival was also celebrated at Chingei Lampak, Moirang under Youth Development Organisation, Moirang and at Thongju Waikhom Khongnang under Rising Sun Club.

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