IMPHAL, October 19: The Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Board celebrated the Mera Hou Chongba at 1st Manipur Rifles Complex, Haying Khongbal, Tolong Yumpham today.
The highlights of the celebration that was participated by different communities from many parts of the state were cultural show and exchange of gifts between hills and plain dwellers led by state Chief Minister O Ibobi himself.
Addressing the gathering, Ibobi Singh expressed that from the times of yore, ties between hills and plain have lived together and the fondness cannot be erased from the mind of the people.
He further said that indigenous people living in hills are the elder brother and the people living in the hills came down to the valley and offered gifts to the brother settling in the plain. There is close bonds between hills and valley, he added.
The event of exchanging gifts signifies the bond between hills and valley people and also provide the opportunities to revive their relationships, he said.
He continued that development of Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Board and its infrastructure will be discussed along with MLAs of the state and will take up all the possible steps. He wished that from next year Mera Hou Chongba will be organized on a grander scale.
Speaking at the function former minister RV Mingthing said Mera Hou Chongba there is need for preservation of the ritual, stating that it will bring unity to pave the way for emotional integrity for the state and remove the sense of distance from one another.
He advocated getting over the bitter incidents in the past and thinking for a better society in the future instead. We should continue practicing the rich heritage which was preserved by our ancestors, he stated.