IMPHAL, Oct 29 ? As a bond of love and affection, hill and valley people exchanged gifts in the age-old brotherly co-existence festival of Manipur ? Mera Hou Chongba ? which was observed at three different venues ? the royal palace (Sanakonung), Kangla (the first royal palace of Manipur) and Gandhi Memorial Hall here on Thursday with the Manipur titular king Leishemba Sanajaoba as the chief guest.
The festival to foster communal harmony and promote the culture and tradition of each and every community living in the north-eastern states was also observed in Aizawl on the day. A traditional and cultural procession with traditional attires of different people was organized from the royal palace to the historic Kangla and then a traditional function was organized at the Gandhi Memorial hall.
It was jointly organized by the Ethno Heritage Council (HERICON), Mera Hou Chongba Sana Konung and Hou Khunnai Inat Thoushil Lup, a cultural organization of Manipur. The Mera Hou Chongba is a festival where people from the hills and valley interact in the most joyous manner.
It is, perhaps, the oldest festival in the world dating back to 33 AD; the year first known Manipuri king Nonda Lairen Pakhangba ascended the thrown at the Kangla. Earlier the festival was observed at Kangla with the king of Manipur and the chiefs of the hills. Interestingly, these days the festival is being observed in various parts of the State.
Manipur titular king Leishemba Sanajaoba speaking on the occasion said that other than the festival observed at Kangla in a ritualistic manner, other festivals cannot be treated as Mera Hou Chongba although it should be taken as a part and parcel of the festival.
Other festivals should be treated as ?Pot-lannaba? between the hills and valley people. Lamenting that the festival has now been politicalized, he said that it would bring ?integrity? among the hill and valley people. The question of integrity or unity among the hill and valley people does not arise as the hill brethren still come down to meet their valley brethren every year on the occasion of this festival, he said.
There has not been a single instance where the hill brethren have refused to meet their valley brothers on Mera Hou Chongba festival, he said, adding that it was a natural phenomenon to meet the blood brothers.