|
Ratha Yatra (Kang)
One of the greatest festivals of the Hindus of Manipur, the festival is celebrated for ten days(July). Lord Jagannath leaves his temple in a car known as 'Kang' in Manipur pulled by pilgrims who vie with one another for this honor.
During the Rathayatra the procession follows the music party with a pung (drum), nahal (large cymbals), gongs, bells and conch. The devotees sing devotional songs and dance. The offerings of barti (short sticks having cotton fibre wrapping around, soaked in ghee), flowers and fruits are made by devotees at dissimilar places in the locality. In the evening community feasts are arranged in the Mandapas of temples.
The Kirtan called 'Khubakisei' is performed by the devotees. In houses a special kind of food is prepared as a 'prasad'. The main Rathayatra is performed in the Govindajee temple. The women wear special dress for the occasion, the light pink coloured 'fanek' and white 'chader'. Man wear white dhoti and kurta. Some old people also wear white 'pagri'.
|