THE FESTIVAL OF KANG OR RATHYATRA IN MANIPUR

The festival of Kang falls on the 24th of June for this year, 2009. Like Holi, This is another important festival of the Hindu Meiteis. All I know about Kang is that it is usually celebrated for about 7 to 10 days, depending on the auspicious nature of the calendar. It is during Kang that we get to eat lots of Khichri with Mangal Oooti and Laphu Iromba, a speciality item of the brahmins. The first day is marked by the Rathyatra, which I have painstakingly tried to show in my graphic. The Raths will be pulled by men, women and children to stop at the gates of those who offer fruits and other items as darshan to Lord Jaganath. The air is filled with the fragrance of the burning Barti which the faithfuls believe must be either 108 or 18 in number as the most auspicious number to be offered to the Lord. Very often, children are seen grabbing the fruits and other offerings after the prayers and singing Hari Sankritan. At night, one can witness Jayadep chongba and Chali by elders and young girls in Mandaps. Then, it is followed by the Khichri chaba as the concluding event for the day. On the last day, which is called "kanglen" the same pattern is followed.

Greetings from Bishnupur, Manipur.