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The 65th Lokhimon Karcho, commemorating the birth of the Lokhimon faith, was celebrated by the believers of Lokhimon on Sunday.
Lokhimon Karcho is celebrated for five days starting from February 3 to the 7th. It is an annual celebration.
It was on this day (February 5, 1995), that the Lokhimon faith was founded by priest Lokhon Engti Hansek at Bapuram Tokbi village, Dolamara in Karbi Anglong district in Assam. The headquarters is at No.2 Dolamara near Bapuram Tokbi village.
The faith which initially started in various parts of Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong, has spread to other districts like Tezpur, North Lakhimpur, Sonitpur and Arunachal Pradesh.
As told by one of the believers of the Lokhimon faith, Ronjit Teron, the faith has 113 Lokhimon ativan (temples) with more than 60,000 believers.
There are four ‘ashrams’ located at No.2 Dolamara, near Bapuram Tokbi village; Japralangso; Kokila in Arunachal Pradesh and Rongnagar, Bakulia. The ashrams are also called as Dovan Longri Anei.
At Inglongchingri Lokhimon adovan, the celebration started with kangthir methek kepi – (joy goh) by priest Khorsing Hanse, in which devotees including men, women, youth and children took part.
In the morning, tools and appliances and vehicles were washed and vermilion applied on them, even as children and other family members sought blessings from parents.
The devotees were dressed in their prescribed religious attires. Women, men and youth have separate dress codes for differentiation.
The old Lokhimon flags were removed and replaced with new ones in every home and in the temples, the new Lokhimon flags replaced the old ones.
The devotees brought home-prepared edible items and fruits to the temple priests for blessing. Deceased persons were remembered during the celebration.
The worship of Lokhimon, which was held in the later part of the day, was also joined by devotees with songs going in circles around the sacred fire.
Assistant secretary of Inglong Chingri Lokhimon adovan, Sarsing Timung said, “It is a faith not only for the Karbis, but can be accepted by all. In Lokhimon there is no practice of caste system and all are treated equally.”
He also said in Lokhimon, women get equal opportunities as men. The women can take the lead in worship. The Lokhimon faith teaches about love and kindness toward fellow beings including animals and birds, he added.