Sanamahi Ahong Khong Chingba

Sanamahi Ahong Khong Chingba or Sanamahi Cheng Hongba or Kang Chingba is the religious festival of Manipuri people, associated mainly with the public procession with the grand chariot, housing the Meitei God Lainingthou Sanamahi. The Imphal city serves as the main location of the festival. It attracts thousands of pilgrims who join the procession. The festival was celebrated 350 years ago, and after a long pause, it was first recelebrated in the year 2018.[1][2][3]

Further information: Fairs and Festivals in Manipur
Sanamahi Ahong Khong Chingba
Observed byMeitei people
Typereligious
CelebrationsRice, vegetables and fruits are offered to the deity Lainingthou Sanamahi
ObservancesGrand Chariot housing deity Sanamahi is pulled by the devotees
Dateancient period upto 18th century; 2018-present
FrequencyAnnual

During the festival, thousands of devotees offer rice, fruits, vegetables, money, along with the traditional rites and rituals to seek blessings from the deity.

Similar festival

Sanamahi Ahong Khong Chingba is purely a festival of Sanamahism. But after Hindunisation of Meitei society, a similar type of festival was created. It's the Hindu form of Kang Chingba, a local Rath Yatra, which is a nine-day chariot festival dedicated to Lord Jagannath, similar to the Rath Yatra of Puri. It is a festival of Meitei Hindus of Manipur. As it is observed in other parts of the country and abroad, the idols of Shri Jagannatha, Shri Balarama and Shri Subhadra are the replicas of the deities Lord Jagannatha, his brother Balarama and sister Subhadra of Puri, Odisha. They are drawn in the Rath (car) of Shri Jagannatha that is very big and tall nearly 20 feet height with six iron wheels by the devotees on the days of Rath Yatra and Puma Yatra as well. [4][5][6]

References
  1. "Ancient Manipur ritual held". www.telegraphindia.com.
  2. "Sanamahi Ahong-Khong Chingba ritual to be organised :: Manipur News | Manipur Daily | Poknapham - Manipuri News!". thepeopleschronicle.in.
  3. "Sanamahee Ahong Khong Chingba observed after 350 years". June 28, 2018.
  4. "Kang Chingba". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2020-09-19.
  5. Yojana Magazine. Government of India. August 2020. p. 18.
  6. "Kang Rath Yatra Manipur | Kang Chingba Festival Manipur". www.tourmyindia.com. Retrieved 2020-09-19.
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