Mera hou chongba festival

• On October 7, Manipur celebrated the Mera Hou Chongba festival, a symbol of unity between the hill and valley communities.
• Village heads from various hill districts visited the Manipur royal palace in Imphal to mark the occasion.

• Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba, the titular king of Manipur and a Rajya Sabha MP, formally welcomed the tribal chiefs.
• The festival is celebrated every year on the 15th lunar day of the Mera month of the Meitei calendar.
• A ritual march was led by Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba from the royal palace to historic Kangla.

• Traditional rituals such as the Mera Men Tongba and Yenkhong Tamba were performed during the festival.
• The exchange of gifts between tribal chiefs and valley residents symbolizes brotherhood and harmony.