Heikru-Hidongba, a traditional boat race festival, is being celebrated annually with great fervor and jubilance on 11th day of fortnight of Langban, Meitei lunar month, (corresponding to September month in the Gregorian calendar) at the Thangapat (moat) of Shri Bijoy Govindajee, Sagolband, Imphal.
HEIKRU denotes “amala” (gooseberry) and HIDONGBA denotes “the boat ride”. It doesn’t infer from this that it is merely a boat race festival; rather have many socio-religious connotations with deep-rooted history.
SIGNIFICANCE:
It is observed to illuminate the life of all the communities of Manipur with serenity & affluence; and marked with the seasonal maturing of an edible fruit, Heikru.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
It was started during the reign of Maharaja Irengba in 984 A.D. From then till Maharaja Maramba’s (Gourashyam) time, the Heikru Hidongba ceremony was held occasionally.
The celebration at Sagolband was commenced from the day, when Maharaja Bhagyachandra with his uncle Nongpok Leirikhomba (Anantasai) started the seva of Shri Bijoy Govinda,which was followed by a grand celebration of the Heikru Hidongba to commemorate festive occasion in 1779 A.D. From then, the festival would be held each year on the 11th day of Langban (September) till today without a break.
Maharaja Bhagyachandra harmonized the pristine Meitei elements with contemporary elements of Vashnavism such as puja, offering of fruit-flower, san-kirtan, blowing of the conch, aarti, etc.
CELEBRATIONS IN CONTEMPORARY DAYS:
Boats are cleaned and purified with the chanting of hymns before morning hours of Mangal aarti followed by offering of gold & silver items to Shri Bijoy Govinda by two Tengmai Leppa (team leaders) of the two boats. Subsequently, prayers are offered to the Lord Sri Govindajee and goddess Rashewori before the actual commencement of the boat race.
Then, Shri Bijoy Govinda goes on a procession in ‘Hi-Khabak-Lakpa’ (two boats tied together) along the sides of the moat, & stops at every Hiden and people make offerings of fruits, flowers and prayers to Shri Bijoy Govinda. This is known as Lai Lamyengba.
The King of Manipur will offer gold and silver coins to the Pakhangba (Meitei god) for the prosperity of the land as a part of rituals.
A garland of 108 Heikru with alternate buds of Hup (a wild grass) and also a garland of 108 Cheng Machang Pareng (fine rice grain), are offered and later worn by Tengmai Leppa of the two boats. The two garlands will be offered to Shri Bijoy Govinda and will then be placed on the deck of the two boats. The winner of the boat race will wear the garland of Heikru or Cheng Machang.
The Maiba or Pandit (Priest) will decide the good or bad presage of the year from the boat race.
