Haraoba Lai Haraoba (ꯂꯥꯢ ꯍꯔꯥꯎꯕ), the merrymaking festival dedicated to the Umang Lais and the Lam Lais of Sanamahism, has no particular dates of celebration according to Meitei calendar. Some are celebrated for a few weeks while some continue for more than a month. Translated, Lai Haraoba means merry making of the Gods in Meiteilon. This festival is organized as a piece of memory of the contribution of Gods in creating the Universe and also it is celebrated in the memory of the development of plants, animals and human beings. Mera Chaorel Houba Mera Chaorel Houba (ꯃꯦꯔꯥ ꯆꯥꯎꯔꯦꯜ ꯍꯧꯕ), the onset of the Mera month is marked by the united gatherings of the Meitei people along with the tribesmen communities of Manipur on the 1st lunar day of the Mera month of the Meitei year. It is during this event that devotees offer rice, fruits and vegetables to Lainingthou Sanamahi and Leimarel Sidabi in the sacred Sanamahi Temple of Imphal. Mera Hou Chongba Mera Hou Chongba (ꯃꯦꯔꯥ ꯍꯧ ꯆꯣꯡꯕ) falls on the 15th lunar day of the Mera month of the Meitei year. Its main theme is the unity and love between the Meitei people and the tribesmen communities of Manipur. On this day, all the hill tribes came down to the valley of Imphal, and gather at the Royal Palace, and show their cultural dances and other art forms. The day ends with a grand feast, held together with the Meitei people and the tribes, to show solitude, oness of all the ethnic groups in the region. Ningol Chakouba Ningol Chakouba (ꯅꯤꯉꯣꯜ ꯆꯥꯛꯀꯧꯕ) falls on the 2nd lunar day of the Hiyangkei month of the Meitei year. It is on this day that the married ladies compulsory visit their parental house to dine with their paternal family members, especially brothers. The festival is celebrated in the theme of strengthening of the bond of love between married ladies (ningol) and their paternal families. Panthoibi Iratpa Panthoibi Iratpa (ꯄꯥꯟꯊꯣꯢꯕꯤ ꯏꯔꯥꯠꯄ), the sacred festival dedicated to Panthoipi, the Meitei goddess of war and love, is celebrated by her devotees, in the holy pantheons dedicated to her. The festival falls on the same day of Hindu festival of Durga Puja. So, both the festival are celebrated together in Manipur. The goddess Panthoibi is also worshipped as the goddess of same attributes (riding on the tiger) with that of Hindu goddess Durga since 1714