Heikru Hidongba Festival

The Meities in Manipur has a festival without a fixed date to be celebrated. Known as Heikru Hidongba, festival was said to have originated long before Rajarshi Bhagyachandra where Sanamahi Pakhangba is worshipped. The then king fixed the schedule. The celebration remained more or less unchanged during the time of Meiding-u Irengba. These were allowed to continue even during the time Meiding-u Maramba (Gourashyam).
 
But the huge celebration started with the seva of Bijoy Govinda by Nongpok Leirikhomba (Anantasai). They decided that the festival would be celebrated on the 11th day of Langban of each year. This is what the tradition. Bhagyachandra combined the Meitei traditional elements with elements of Vashnavism such as – puja, fruit-flower offering, sankirtan, blowing of the conch. It was none other than Bijoy Govinda who graced the boat and then the aarti was performed. Since then Heikru Hidongba is celebrated with a spectacular visual drama of the boat race. The spotlight falls on Thangapat in the Cinderella state.
 
The race starts after Bijoy Govinda goes on a procession along the sides of the moat. They call it Lai Lamyengba. The waiting spectators offer fruits, flowers and aaarti to Bijoy Govinda. Then the boat carrying Bijoy Govinda goes eastwards. The team leaders reach the boat with offerings to the deity. Finally, the boats are taken to the race area.
 
Some other aspects make the festival more charming. With deep faith and devotion, a day before the boat race two team leaders put silver and gold in a container to be offered to Bijoy Govinda to acknowledge the presence of the Lord of the universe. This is what the ancient tradition of worship in by the Meiteis.
 
Another charming feature of the festival is a garland of 108 Heikru with a tip of hup in between two Heikru. Another garland emerges of 102 rice--each grain picked up by fingers.
Both the garlands are offered to Bijoy Govinda to be placed on the decks of the two boats. Heikru Pareng basically, represents the core inside each individual human being. The winner of the race is either the Heikru pareng team or the Cheng Pareng team. During this festival the Meities in Manipur does not eat Heikru. It is an occasion where the people of all castes and creeds stand united at a same platform. It is also called the special Janmastami in Manipur.