![Manipur Celebrates Annual ‘Mera Hou Chongba’ Festival Manipur Celebrates Annual ‘Mera Hou Chongba’ Festival](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYdBKQZotcfhjCiSSHOdqarjZozNaxd3hTBmBbZXcraIAmoNIdSNne0sqgP0-AeeJeye5YQ30j7eeZlFlILdVKvMMMAfZGJg8oLYv91uqXvgiDrwV8angICfl-i18DqKcz-H7MjHAAA_mIKELecPF3o3sc2OD95t-Teq74lp_JJYXBmIB8DNnwwmw5s7e/w320-h202-rw/800px-%EA%AF%8D%EA%AF%A4%EA%AF%8C%EA%AF%A5%EA%AF%A1_%EA%AF%87%EA%AF%A5%EA%AF%9F%EA%AF%85%EA%AF%95%EA%AF%B5.jpg)
- The festival falls on the 15th lunar day of the Mera month of the Meitei calendar.
- The main location for the celebration of the festival is at the Sana Konung, the Royal Palace of Manipur.
- On this day, all the hill tribes come down to the valley of Imphal, gather at the Royal Palace, and showcase their cultural dances and other art forms.
- The day ends with a grand feast, held together with the Meitei people and the tribes, to show solidarity and oneness of all the ethnic groups in the region.
- The festival is also known as Mera Waayungba or Mera Thaumei Thaanba.
- During the festival, a lamp tied to a tall green bamboo pole is lighted and installed.
- This lighting of the lamp atop the end of the bamboo signals the safety of the people.
- It’s a beautiful festival that brings people of the hills and Valley together, celebrating the rich culture and harmonious co-existence of various ethnic groups.
Question:
Q.1 What is the Mera Hou Chongba festival?a. A harvest festival celebrated in Manipur
b. A festival of solidarity celebrated by every indigenous ethnic group in Manipur
c. A religious festival celebrated in Manipur
d. A festival celebrating the new year in Manipur