Meitei festivals

Meitei women performing ceremonial dance

Meitei festivals are an integral part of the cultural heritage of the Meitei civilisation, native to the Indian state of Manipur, and surrounding areas, including Assam, Tripura, Myanmar's Meitei diasporic settlements and Bangladeshi Meitei settlements. The festivals often celebrate events from Ancient Manipur and often coinciding with seasonal changes, in adherence to the Meitei calendar. These festivals are celebrated throughout the year, each with its own significance and rituals.

A Meitei woman holding a garland of gooseberries to participate in the Heikru Hidongba.

List

Cheiraoba

Cheiraoba (ꯆꯩꯔꯥꯎꯕ), also known as Sajibu Nongma Panba Cheiraoba, or Sajibu Cheiraoba, the traditional Meitei lunar new year, falls on the 1st lunar day of Sajibu month in the Meitei calendar. During the celebration, people worship guardian deity, Lainingthou Sanamahi inside the domestic sacred altar called Sanamahi Kachin, by offering seasonal fruits and vegetables.[1][2][3][4]

Emoinu Eratpa

Emoinu Eratpa (ꯏꯃꯣꯢꯅꯨ ꯏꯔꯥꯠꯄ), also spelled as Imoinu Iratpa, is the sacred day for Emoinu, the goddess of wealth and prosperity in Meitei mythology and religion. It falls on the 12th lunar day of the Waakching month of the Meitei calendar.[5][6][7][8][9][10]

Heikru Hidongba

Heikru Hidongba.

Heikru Hidongba (ꯍꯩꯀ꯭ꯔꯨ ꯍꯤꯗꯣꯡꯕ), the annual royal boat racing festive event (a variation of Hiyang Tannaba), is organised on the 11th lunar day of the Langban month of the Meitei calendar. The event is mainly organized in the moat of the Sagolband Bijoy Gobinda in Imphal.[11][12]

It is a socio-religious ceremony performed with elements of religious, custom and other traditional belief of creation.[13][14]

Kwaak Taanba

Kwaak Taanba (ꯀ꯭ꯋꯥꯛ ꯇꯥꯟꯕ), the ceremonial freeing of the crow by the Meitei king, is celebrated on the 10th lunar day of the Mera month of the Meitei calendar. Its main place of celebration is the Sana Konung, the Royal Residence of the King of Manipur.[15][16][17][18]

The day falls on the 10th lunar day of Mera month of the Meitei calendar. The festival includes numerous rites and rituals, along with various divine dance and music performances held at the Sana Konung.[19][20][21]

The setting free of the crow is performed at the Thangapat, the Royal Moat, in Imphal. The main theme of the festival is to bring prosperity and good luck in the region.[19][20][21]

Lai Haraoba

Lai Haraoba (ꯂꯥꯢ ꯍꯔꯥꯎꯕ), the merrymaking festival dedicated to the group of tutelary deities called Umang Lais of Sanamahism, has no fixed strict dates of celebration according to Meitei calendar. Some are celebrated for a few weeks while some continue for more than a month. Individual temple authorities keep the timing varying for the respective deities.[22]

In Classical Meitei language, Lai Haraoba means merry making of the Gods.[23]

This festival is organized with themes focusing on the creation myth of Sanamahism.[24]

Mera Chaorel Houba

Mera Chaorel Houba (ꯃꯦꯔꯥ ꯆꯥꯎꯔꯦꯜ ꯍꯧꯕ) is the onset of the Mera month of Meitei calendar. It is marked by the gatherings of the Meitei people and the hill people (tribesmen communities) of Manipur. It is celebrated on the 1st lunar day of the Mera month of the Meitei calendar. Devotees offer rice, fruits and vegetables to deities, Lainingthou Sanamahi and Leimarel Sidabi in the Sanamahi Temple of Imphal.[25][26]

Mera Hou Chongba

Mera Hou Chongba (ꯃꯦꯔꯥ ꯍꯧ ꯆꯣꯡꯕ) is celebrated on the 15th lunar day of the Mera month of the Meitei calendar. Its main theme is the unity and love between the Meitei people and the hill people (tribesmen communities and in particular with the Zeliangrong Nagas) of Manipur.[27][28]

On this day, all the representatives of the hill tribes come down to the Imphal Valley, and gather at the Sana Konung (Royal Palace), and perform their respective traditional and cultural dances and other performing art forms. The day ends with a grand feast, held together with the Meitei people and the tribes, to show brotherhood and oness of all the ethnic groups in the region.[29][30][31][32]

Ningol Chakouba

Ningol Chkkouba.

Ningol Chakouba (ꯅꯤꯉꯣꯜ ꯆꯥꯛꯀꯧꯕ) is celebrated on the 2nd lunar day of the Hiyangkei month of the Meitei calendar. The married ladies visit their parental house to have a meal with their paternal family members, especially brothers, fathers, uncles, etc.[33]

The festival is celebrated in the theme of strengthening of the bond of love between married ladies (ningol) and their paternal families.[34][35][36][37][38]

Panthoibi Iratpa

Panthoibi Iratpa (ꯄꯥꯟꯊꯣꯢꯕꯤ ꯏꯔꯥꯠꯄ), also spelled as Panthoibi Eratpa, is a sacred festival dedicated to Panthoipi, the Meitei goddess of love. It is celebrated by her devotees, in the temples where she is worshipped.[39][40][41]

The festival is celebrated with timing roughly simultaneous with that of Hindu festival of Durga Puja. Thus, both the festival are celebrated together in Manipur.[42] The goddess Panthoibi is also worshipped simultaneously with Hindu goddess Durga since 1714 CE since the reign of King Garib Niwaj (Pamheiba) who embraced Hinduism as the official religion in the kingdom of Manipur.[43]

The Hiyangthang Lairembi Temple in Imphal West district is a notable site for the celebration of the festival in Manipur.[42]

Sanamahi Ahong Khong Chingba

Sanamahi Ahong Khong Chingba (ꯁꯅꯥꯃꯍꯤ ꯑꯍꯣꯡ ꯈꯣꯡ ꯆꯤꯡꯕ), also known as Sanamahi Cheng Hongba, is a sacred chariot pulling festival dedicated to Sanamahi, the guardian deity of the mankind in Sanamahism. People offer uncooked rice (husked paddy) to the deity. The notable site of the event is Imphal. It was revived in 2018, after having been banned for 350 years.[44][45][46] The Imphal celebration brings together many pilgrims who join the procession.[47][48][49]

Yaoshang

Yaosang (ꯌꯥꯎꯁꯪ), also spelled as Yaoshang, is celebrated for five days, starting on the 15th lunar day of the Lamtaa month of the Meitei calendar. Due to its coincidence with the timing of the one day Hindu festival of Holi, people imitate the Hindu culture of using colors to spray one another, because of modern influence.[50] Yaosang is indigenous traditions of the Meitei people.[51] It is considered the most important festival in Manipur. [52]

Other festivals

Rath Yatra celebrated by the Meitei Hindus in Manipur.

Since some sections of Meitei people also follow Hinduism and Christianity, the general Hindu and Christian festivals are also celebrated in addition to those of the traditional Meitei religion (Sanamahism).

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Sajibu Cheiraoba New Year Observation of Meeteis".
  2. ↑ "Sajibu Cheiraoba".
  3. ↑ "Sajibu Cheiraoba New Year Observation of Meeteis".
  4. ↑ Sajibu Cheiraoba
  5. ↑ https://m.telegraphindia.com/states/north-east/meiteis-celebrate-emoinu/cid/1627030
  6. ↑ "Imoinu Iratpa extensively held all over : 03rd jan15 ~ E-Pao! Headlines".
  7. ↑ "CM wishes on Ima Imoinu Iratpa numit". 17 January 2019.
  8. ↑ "Imoinu Iratpa around the world in 2021". Office Holidays.
  9. ↑ Khumukcham, Rinku (17 January 2019). "CM wishes on Ima Imoinu Iratpa numit - Imphal Times". www.imphaltimes.com.
  10. ↑ "Meiteis celebrate Emoinu". www.telegraphindia.com.
  11. ↑ "Heikru Hidongba Cultural History of Manipur by Ch Jamini".
  12. ↑ http://www.thepeopleschronicle.in/daily/english/2231
  13. ↑ "Heikru-Hidongba Festival of Manipur, Heikru Hidongba Boat Festival".
  14. ↑ "'Heikru-Hidongba symbolises revival of age-old tradition'".
  15. ↑ "Kwak Tanba : 29th sep09 ~ E-Pao! Headlines".
  16. ↑ "Kwak Tanba – Manipur News". 15 October 2021.
  17. ↑ "Titular King wishes people on Kwak Tanba : 20th oct18 ~ E-Pao! Headlines".
  18. ↑ "Kwak tanba performed : 15th oct13 ~ E-Pao! Headlines".
  19. 1 2 "Kwak Tanba : 29th sep09 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  20. 1 2 "Kwak Tanba ritual performed – Manipur News". manipur.org. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  21. 1 2 "Titular King wishes people on Kwak Tanba : 20th oct18 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  22. ↑ "Lai Haraoba, a ritualistic festival began in Agartala, Tripura".
  23. ↑ Acharya, Amitangshu; Soibam Haripriya (27 July 2007). "Respect to foster unity in cultural mosaic - festival/lai haraoba". The Telegraph. Retrieved 5 November 2008.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  24. ↑ "Lai Haraoba Festival of Manipur". www.india-tours.com. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  25. ↑ "People celebrates Mera Chaoren Houba | Pothashang News". 21 September 2017.
  26. ↑ https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/north-east/manipur-in-festive-mood/cid/1656689
  27. ↑ "Outlook India - India's Best Magazine| Find Latest News, Top Headlines, Live Updates". Archived from the original on 10 December 2019.
  28. ↑ "Mera Houchongba Festival by Budha Kamei".
  29. ↑ "Mera Hou Chongba: Manipur celebrates festival of oneness". outlookindia.com/. Archived from the original on 10 December 2019.
  30. ↑ "Mera Houchongba Festival By Budha Kamei". e-pao.net.
  31. ↑ "Manipurs traditional Mera Houchongba festival aims to integrate communities". Business Standard.
  32. ↑
  33. ↑ "Ampareen hits back at 'surrendered' HNLC leader; dares government to make procedure public". 21 October 2018.
  34. ↑ "Ningol Chakouba: A Day for Daughters in Manipur – Video Volunteers".
  35. ↑ "Ningol Chakouba celebrated in Manipur". 21 October 2018.
  36. ↑ "Ningol Chakkouba in Manipur in 2021 | by Office Holidays".
  37. ↑ http://www.e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=leisure.El.A_Ningols_Chakouba_Wish
  38. ↑ "Ningol Chakouba - the festival of family reunion that signifies Manipur's rich cultural heritage".
  39. ↑ https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/north-east/panthoibi-celebrations-under-way/cid/319225
  40. ↑ https://www.uniindia.com/durga-puja-panthoibi-festival-celebrated-in-manipur/other/news/243592.html
  41. ↑ "Durga Puja".
  42. 1 2 "Durga Puja, Panthoibi festival celebrated in Manipur".
  43. ↑ "Durga Puja". www.e-pao.net.
  44. ↑ https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/north-east/ancient-manipur-ritual-held/cid/1453267
  45. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  46. ↑ http://www.pothashang.in/2018/06/28/sanamahee-ahong-khong-chingba-observed-350-years/
  47. ↑ "Ancient Manipur ritual held". www.telegraphindia.com.
  48. ↑ "Sanamahi Ahong-Khong Chingba ritual to be organised :: Manipur News | Manipur Daily | Poknapham - Manipuri News!". thepeopleschronicle.in.
  49. ↑ "Sanamahee Ahong Khong Chingba observed after 350 years". 28 June 2018.
  50. ↑ "Eastern Mirror".
  51. ↑ Singh, Ksh Imokanta (2008). Religion and Development in North-east India: A sociological understanding (PDF). University of Birmingham. p. 76. ISBN 978-0-7044-2655-9. Retrieved 18 June 2015. However, rather than starting a completely new religious system, their efforts have focused on establishing a parallel culture to counter the Vaishnavite forces, for example observance of Yaosang (Meitei version of Holi) during the same period as the Hindu Dol jatra festival. This movement may try to create a political fissure within the society, but it is very difficult to sort out which elements are purely Hindu and which indigenous, because people have long internalized both elements in their way of life. {{cite book}}: |journal= ignored (help)
  52. ↑ Parratt, Saroj Nalini (April 1974). "The Public Festivals" (PDF). The Religion of Manipur: Beliefs, Rituals and Historical Development (Thesis). Australian National University. p. 43. Retrieved 18 June 2015. The third, and most important, of the Krishnaite festivals is Dol Jatra, or, to give it its Meitei name, Yaosang. This is the greatest of the Meitei festivals and is celebrated on the full moon of Lamta (February––March), lasting for six days.
    This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.