Manipur celebrates ‘Mera Houchongba’ with traditional fervour

IMPHAL — The state-level traditional festival of the Meitei community called ‘Mera Houchongba,’ which is celebrated to rekindle bond between different ethnic communities, was celebrated at the historic Kangla Fort in Imphal on Saturday.

Manipur Chief Minister, N Biren Singh, along with his council of ministers, MLAs and other dignitaries including titular king and Rajya Sabha MP, Leishemba Sanajaoba, attended the ‘Mera Houchongba’ festival, which exemplified oneness and brotherhood among different ethnic communities.

Performances by various cultural and traditional troupes from different communities, exchange of gifts, signifying the bond of brotherhood between the different communities of the state and releasing of a souvenir, were main highlights of the festival.

Biren Singh also exchanged gifts with important personalities on the occasion.

Addressing the gathering, Biren said, “If we don’t protect our land, preserve our own culture and traditions, no one will come to protect and preserve them.”

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On the uniqueness and importance of Mera Houchongba, he said that there is no other event that celebrates the inextricable and strong bond between the people of the hills and the valley that could unify the people.

Stressing on the various steps taken up to bring unity in the state involving historians and cultural experts from different communities, he highlighted that the government, after proper consultation with cultural experts and elders, had removed the Kaabak from the Kangla Shas, closed the Western Gate and opened the Eastern Gate of Kangla.

He has termed the present situation as “unfortunate’ and assured that the government would provide protection and guard the indigenous communities residing together in the state.

Further stressing on the steps taken up by the government to strengthen ties between the hills and valley, Singh stated that schemes like ‘Go to Hills and Go to Village’ were launched to understand and act upon the requirements of the people from the interior parts of the State.

He added that the state government had produced a white paper on the allocation of budgets for the hills in 2021-22.

He also explained the ecological imbalance which is affecting the environment and stressed that the government wants to only preserve and protect the Reserved Forest areas. He said the government is not trying to evict the people from their villages.

Biren Singh concluded with a prayer for the Mera Houchongba to bring peace in the State and for all communities to live together in peace.