| Haoreima/Durga Puja in Meitei culture | |
|---|---|
 Goddess Durga (as well as the other two goddesses) wearing a potloi (Meitei for 'traditional Meitei cylindrical skirt'), showcasing the masterpiece of Meitei culture, in Kolkata, West Bengal | |
| Status | active |
| Genre | festival |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Venue | Manipur, Assam, Tripura and Kolkata areas of West Bengal |
| Country |  India |
| Participants | Meitei people as well as other Hindu people |
| It includes celebrations for Durga Puja in Kolkata, a UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage | |
Durga Puja (Meitei: Bor Puja, lit. 'worshipping for boon/blessing'[1]), one of the most widely celebrated Hindu festivals, is an integral part of the culture of Meitei Hindus.
In Manipur edit
The festival of Durga Puja started getting celebrated from the 18th century CE in Kangleipak (Meitei for 'Manipur'), during the reign of Hindu Meitei King Garib Niwaz (Meitei: Pamheiba; Sanskrit: Gopal Singh), the Maharajah of Manipur Kingdom. Durga Puja gradually replaced the Panthoibi Iratpa festival of the traditional Meitei religion, and so does the cult of Durga (usually in the forms of Kamakhya or Kalika) with that of ancient Meitei goddess Panthoibi in the kingdom.[2][3][4]
Later, when there was a revivalist cultural movement of the traditional Meitei religion (Sanamahism) in Manipur as well as other Manipuri populated places, the cult of Panthoibi (sometimes referred to as "Panthoibism") became predominant in focus of the Meitei people. However, Durga Puja celebrations are so deeply rooted in the Meitei society that Panthoibi Iratpa can't easily replace Durga Puja, unlike its replacement in the past.[5] So, in present times, in Manipur and other Manipuri populated places, both Durga Puja and Panthoibi Iratpa are frequently seen to be celebrated with equal jest and equal honour to both the goddesses, despite their religious differences.[6][7][8] The classic example of this is seen in the Hiyangthang Lairembi Temple,[9] a shrine originally dedicated to Irai Leima (alias Ireima), an ancient Meitei goddess, associated with water bodies and diseases, but later culturally integrated with the cults of Panthoibi and Durga.[10][11]
In Assam and Tripura edit
In Kolkata edit
In popular culture edit
Gallery edit
See also edit
Notes edit
References edit
- ^ "Manipur: Devotees throng Hiyangthang Lairembi Temple for 'Bor Puja' in Imphal".
- ^ Devy, G. N.; Davis, Geoffrey V.; Chakravarty, K. K. (2015-08-12). Knowing Differently: The Challenge of the Indigenous. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-32568-0.
- ^ Lisam, Khomdan Singh (2011). Encyclopaedia Of Manipur (3 Vol.). p. 676. ISBN 978-81-7835-864-2.
- ^ "Durga Puja". Retrieved 2023-10-24.
- ^ Devy, G. N.; Davis, Geoffrey V.; Chakravarty, K. K. (2015-08-12). Knowing Differently: The Challenge of the Indigenous. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-32568-0.
- ^ "Devotees throng temples on 'bor' day in Imphal". The Times of India. 2013-10-13. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
... The Meitei Sanamahi (religion) followers celebrated Panthoibi Eratpa in the same time. ...
- ^ "Durga Puja, Panthoibi festival celebrated in Manipur".
- ^ "Durga puja celebrated in Manipur".
- ^ "Thousands Of Devotees Throng Hiyangthang Lairembi Temple On The Day Of Bor On Second Day Of Durga Puja Festival".
- ^ "Festivities, rituals begin in Manipur". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
- ^ "Manipur: Devotees throng Hiyangthang Lairembi Temple for 'Bor Puja' in Imphal".
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