IT News
Imphal, July 9:
The last day of the Kang(Rath-Yatra) which started on 1st of this month ended today with devotees pulling chariots carrying the idols of Lord Jaganatha. Offerings of fruits and flowers are offered to Lord Jagannath, laid before the chariot.
The Kang of Shri Govindajee is the biggest in the entire state, after the procession of Rath-Yatra of Shri Govindajee temple Raths of other localities in Imphal area and in other villages start their own processions with Sankirtana. Both males and females, young, old, and children participate in the Rath procession. At every gate of the house, people offer flowers and fruits, and sweets to Shri Lord Jagannatha and His siblings wherever the procession goes. Many devotees attended the procession braving the scorching heat of summer.
At night time for the full period of either eight, nine, or ten days whichever may be as indicated by the astrologer from year to year, there is a Sankirtana known as Jayadev-Changba at the Mandap of the temple wherever the Rath Yatra procession has performed. This type of Sankirtana is performed by both groups of men and women separately, the men first and then women follow. Such Sankirtana is performed by standing in a circle with a pungyeiba (drummer) in the middle. The song is sung with the rhythm of the pung (a kind of mridanga used by Manipuri). After the Sankirtana in circle is over some group of young women and girls use to dance or perform dances to the rhythm of the Pung.
After it followed the distribution of Prasadam the “Khechiri” which is to be put on round lotus leaf only since no other thing is allowed but also tasteful, be used for the purpose during those days of the festival. All the people coming to relish/enjoy the Prasadam of Lord Jagannatha are to be sited in rows and the Brahmans distribute the Prasadam to all of them, young and old, men and women with no bar for any sort of community.
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness of Manipur today also observed Kanglen and has been observing the Rath Yatra Festival in a pompous way at the campus of Shri Radha Krishnachandra Mandir at Sangaiprou and the Rath Yatra procession goes up to Keishampat Junction and back from there. In between offering fruits and flowers and performing aarti are being done on both days of Ratha Yatra and Purna Yatra.
This festival always falls on the second day of Engel-Tha (June-July) per the Meitei Calendar.
