IMPHAL, Oct 28 - Mera Hou Chongba festival was observed at Kangla Uttra on Tuesday to strengthen the brotherhood between the hill dwellers with the valley brethrens in Manipur. The festival was organised by Kangla Religious Committee.
State Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, Deputy Speaker MK Preshow, Dr I Ibohalbi Singh, MLA and others attended the function.
This year�s Mera Hou Chongba festival was marked by the age-old tradition of exchanging gifts between the hill and valley people besides staging of cultural programmes such as Maibi Jagoi, Maram dance, Khamba-Thoibi Jagoi, Tangkhul dance, indigenous games like Mukna and Pou Chingnaba and Thang-Ta.
Speaking at the function, Gaikhangam said the festival was a historic event and its essence was the unity between the hills and the valley. He said since time immemorial, the people in hills and valley have been living together as children of same parents and the event reminded one of the feeling of oneness.
�This day reminds us that we the people of hills and valley cannot be separated and we are like the two faces of the same coin�, he stated. �It is very unfortunate that some people are trying to bring out baseless theories to separate the hills and valley�, he alleged.
