CM moots inclusion of ancient stories in school syllabus
Imphal: Mera Houchongba — a festival of oneness and brotherhood among the different communities residing in Manipur — was celebrated with pomp, gaiety and traditional fervour at Kangla on Sunday.
The festival held since ancient time marks the peaceful relationship between all communities by holding a day-long cultural festival. Earlier, it was organised by the Manipur Kings.
Chief Minister N. Biren Singh welcomed all the representatives of all communities and witnessed different cultural shows.
He said that the ancient stories of brotherhood and the civilisation of Manipur should be included in the school and college syllabus so that the young generation may understand that people residing in the hill and valley of Manipur share a common ancestry and have unbreakable blood relation.
Stating that ancient chronicles and legends are the testimony of this fraternal bonding, the chief minister said that no one can frame or change the history.
Mera Wayungba or Mera Thaomei Thaanba (erecting of lamp posts) still narrates the age-old story of how the younger brother, who went down to the valley, signalled to his elder brother in the hill about his well being, he said.
Singh stated that the government has been putting in sincere and committed efforts to retain fraternal bonding and peaceful co-existence among different communities of the state ever since it was sworn in on March 15, 2017.
He said that Mera Houchongba was independently celebrated by different institutions and bodies including Lainingthgou Sanamahi Temple Board and Royal Palace earlier.
The chief minister also reminded that both people of hill and valley not only suffered together but also fought jointly every time Manipur faced external aggressions from Awa (Burma) and British.
“As such, all these instances and stories of unity and togetherness should never be forgotten and overlooked,” he opined.
As in past years, performing age-old rituals, exchange of gifts and presentation of colourful cultural items of different communities were the main highlights of Mera Houchongba celebration.
Earlier in the morning, the age-old rituals like Mera Men Tongba and Yenkhong Tamba were performed at Royal Palace to strengthen the fraternal bond among people of different ethnic communities.
Later, a large number of people from different hill and valley districts gathered at Royal Palace and took out a colourful traditional procession up to Kangla as part of the celebration. (UNI)