- 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
