Manipur Govt Gives Green Light to Mera Hou Chongba Festival — A Celebration of Hill–Valley Unity
The Governor of Manipur, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, has formally approved the state-level celebrations of the annual Mera Hou Chongba festival, with preparations and logistics reviewed at a Raj Bhavan meeting ahead of the event scheduled for 7 October 2025. The festival — held at sacred sites in Imphal such as Kangla (and traditionally at the Royal Palace/Sana Konung) — is an old, living ritual that brings hill and valley communities together to exchange gifts, perform cultural dances, share a feast and reaffirm communal bonds. Officials discussed transport, accommodation and crowd management to ensure the ceremony is seamless and grand in scale.
If you asked someone on the street to describe Mera Hou Chongba, they’d likely smile and say something like: “It’s the day when the hills meet the valley.” At its core, Mera Hou Chongba (also spelled Mera Hao Chongba / Mera Houchongba) is an annual traditional festival that celebrates solidarity and friendship between the valley-based Meitei people and the various hill tribes of Manipur — Tangkhul, Kabui (Rongmei), Anal, Aimol, Chiru, Chothe, Kharam, Kom and many others. The festival is observed on the 15th lunar day of the Mera month in the Meitei calendar (which typically falls in October/November). Historically the hill tribes would descend to the valley to present gifts to the king, share cultural performances, and partake in a common feast — a symbolic exchange that signified mutual recognition and peaceful coexistence.
FAQs
Q1: When is Mera Hou Chongba celebrated and why that date?
A1: Mera Hou Chongba falls on the 15th lunar day of the Mera month in the Meitei calendar, which usually corresponds to October/November on the Gregorian calendar. The date traces back to seasonal and ritual cycles and commemorates traditional hill–valley signals of wellbeing.
Q2: Where are the main venues for the festival this year?
A2: The main ceremonial venues are Kangla in Imphal and historically Sana Konung (the Royal Palace). This year’s state-level celebration was planned for Kangla / Sana Konung precincts with official oversight from Raj Bhavan.
Q3: Who attends Mera Hou Chongba?
A3: Delegations from multiple hill tribes (Tangkhul, Kabui, Anal, Aimol, Chiru, Chothe, Kharam, Kom, etc.) come to the valley, along with Meitei community representatives, state dignitaries, cultural troupes and ordinary citizens. The event mixes elders, cultural custodians and youth performers.
Q4: What are the key activities during the festival?
A4: The day typically features gift exchange, traditional dances and songs, ceremonial presentations, speeches that reaffirm communal bonds, and a shared feast — often prepared in ways that honor both hill and valley culinary practices.
Q5: How can visitors attend respectfully and safely?
A5: Arrive early, dress modestly, ask before photographing performers or elders, use local transport options suggested by organizers, carry some cash for crafts, and follow instructions from event staff regarding seating and entry batches. Most importantly, treat the event as cultural diplomacy rather than a tourist show.
