Sana Konung led by Maharaja Leishemba Sanajaoba welcomes hill brothers and various cultural troupes who came to Imphal to join the Mera Hou Chongba Festival 2022.
Hundreds of different individuals from various hill districts thronged the ‘Sana Konung’ as they reached Imphal on Saturday evening. They will be spending the night at Khuman Lampak.
Addressing the gathering, Sanajaoba who is also the Rajya Sabha MP, termed Mera Hou Chongba as a ‘common customary festival’ for all the ethnic groups of Manipur.
He said such a festival is the one and only of its kind in the whole world, and the people of Manipur should be proud of it.
Maharaja Leishemba Sanajaoba also recalled the challenges faced while celebrating the festival some years ago due to shortage of funds. He said with the formation of the BJP government led by CM N Biren, the Mera Hou Chongba Festival is now celebrated in a grand manner at state level.
He further stressed the need to preserve this festival of brotherhood and unity. “Let us show the world that the people of Manipur are one,” he added.
Various village headmen and chiefs also expressed gratitude to the Sana Konung for hosting the festival in a grand manner.
The State Level Mera Haochongba Festival which falls on Sunday, October 9, will start with a traditional procession from the Sana Konung to the Kangla where the ritual programme will be conducted along with various cultural performances.
Chief Minister N Biren and Textiles Minister Nemcha Kipgen on Saturday extended greetings to the people of the state on the occasion of ‘Mera Hou Chongba’ which falls on Sunday.
In his message, CM N Biren stated that the ‘Mera Hou Chongba’ festival is celebrated on the full-moon day of the month of Mera in the Manipuri lunar calendar.
The festival which is jointly celebrated by the different communities in the state reflects solidarity among the different ethnic groups in Manipur, he added.
He invited the people to reaffirm their unyielding commitment to maintaining unity and harmony among the different communities for the development of the state.
Textile Minister Nemcha Kipgen also conveyed well wishes on the occasion and stated that the festival exemplifies the inseparable bond of brotherhood among the different ethnic communities of the state.
She added, “May this festival bind all the people of our state as one close-knit family with a sense of oneness, love, peaceful co-existence and brotherhood,” she added.”
Meanwhile, the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) extended good wishes to the people of the state on the occasion of ‘Mera Hou Chongba’ which falls on October 9.
MPCC president Keisham Meghachandra conveyed greetings to the people of Manipur on the occasion of ‘Mera Hou Chongba’ which falls on the ‘Mera gi Purnima’ of the Meitei Lunar calendar.
Meghachandra urged the people of the hills and valleys of Manipur to celebrate the occasion together with selfless intentions for the development of the state.
He also extended wishes for ‘Mera Hou Chongba’ to further strengthen the brotherhood among the different communities of the state.