Goutamkumar Oinam (Public Domain)
Summit Reverence: Meitei Mountain Festivals & Sacred Ascents
Ascending Faith: Sacred mountain climbing festivals—Ching Kaaba—as luminous threads binding generations, gods, & the very essence of existence.
In the ancient and storied land of Kangleipak civilization, which we now recognize as modern-day Manipur state, hills and mountains abound. These geological formations, integral to the classical Meitei culture, intertwine with their rich mythology, folklore, and religious practices. The Meitei people, along with other communities, have revered these natural wonders since time immemorial. Their spiritual connection is palpable during grand festivals, where climbing these majestic peaks becomes a sacred act.
Sanamahism, the traditional Meitei ethnic religion, thrives here—a polytheistic belief system entwined with reverence for nature. Within the folds of these hills and mountains, numerous gods and goddesses find their abode. Some even embody the very essence of these geological features.
Goutamkumar Oinam (Public Domain)
Let us delve into their divine presence:
- God Koupalu (alias Koubaru or Koubru): This male deity presides over Mount Koubru, his rugged form mirroring the contours of the mountain itself.
- God Thangching (alias Thangjing): Revered atop the Thangjing Hills, this god’s essence permeates the landscape, connecting the earthly and the celestial.
- Goddess Kounu: As the female personification of Mount Kounu, she graces the Meitei people with her protective presence.
- God Loiyalakpa (alias Loyalakpa): The Loiyalakpa Hills find their guardian in this deity, whose spirit echoes through the valleys.
- God Lok Ningthou (alias Lokningthou): High upon the Lok Ningthou Ching Hills, this god oversees the Meitei’s spiritual journey.
To honor these deities in their native domains, the Meitei undertake an annual pilgrimage. They ascend the hills and mountains, often in pairs—husbands and wives, unmarried men with their girlfriends. While pairing is not obligatory, it remains a cherished tradition. Brothers accompany their sisters, and sisters accompany their brothers, weaving familial bonds into the fabric of this sacred climb.
Goutamkumar Oinam (Public Domain)
In the Classical Meitei language, "Ching" signifies both hill and mountain, while "Kaaba" refers to climbing. "Kumhei" or "Kummei" resonates as "festival," and "Thouram" or "Thoulam" denotes an event or program. Thus, the Meitei people continue to celebrate their heritage, scaling the heights to commune with the divine and etch their stories into the very rocks that cradle their beliefs.
The Thangjing Ching Kaaba, also known as Thangjing Ching Kaaba Kumhei (Kummei, or Thouram), stands as an annual religious celebration where devoted Meitei pilgrims ascend the Thangjing hills with reverence. Their purpose? To offer prayers to God Thangching, also known by the alias Thangjing, within the confines of His sacred shrine perched atop these ancient hills. This timeless tradition has persisted since the mists of antiquity, a testament to the unwavering faith of the Meitei community.
Goutamkumar Oinam (Public Domain)
In the Thangjing Ching Kaaba, the footsteps of countless pilgrims echo through time, bridging generations. Their prayers ascend like incense, reaching the heavens, where God Thangching listens with a benevolent ear. The Thangjing hills cradle their devotion, a silent witness to eternity.
Similarly, the Koubru Ching Kaaba unfolds as another yearly religious spectacle. Here, Meitei pilgrims ascend the majestic Koubru mountain, their hearts brimming with devotion. Their destination: the holy shrine of God Koupalu, also known as Koubaru or Koubru, situated at the mountain’s summit. This sacred ritual, too, has endured through countless generations, bridging the gap between past and present.
Goutamkumar Oinam (Public Domain)
Koubru Ching Kaaba, with its rugged slopes and whispering winds, beckons the faithful upward. Here, amidst mist-kissed boulders, they commune with God Koupalu. His presence lingers in the rustling leaves, in the heartbeats of those who ascend, seeking solace and renewal.
Venturing further, we encounter the Nongmaiching Ching Kaaba, a revered event where Meitei pilgrims ascend the Nongmaiching hills (alternatively known as Nongmaijing hills or Selloi Langmai Ching). Their purpose? To seek blessings from God Nongpok Ningthou and his divine consort, Goddess Panthoibi (also known as Nongpok Leima), ensconced in their hallowed shrine atop these ancient hills. This sacred practice, like an unbroken thread, stretches back into the mists of time.
Goutamkumar Oinam (Public Domain)
However, history weaves a complex tapestry. In medieval times, Brahmin immigrants bestowed a new name upon this event: Baruni Ching Kaaba. They replaced the traditional Meitei deities’ shrine with that of Hindu God Shiva Mahadeva, whose cult had journeyed from the mainland Indian lands. Consequently, for Meiteis who embraced Hinduism, the pilgrimage to the peak became an act of devotion to the Hindu deity. Yet, for those who clung to their ancestral practices, the traditional rituals persisted—a harmonious coexistence with other hills and mountains within their realm.
Nongmaiching Ching Kaaba, shrouded in myth and mystery, reveals its secrets to those who tread its paths. The Nongpok Ningthou and Goddess Panthoibi watch over their devotees, their love etched into the very stones of the hills. Time bends, and the veil between mortal and divine thins—a sacred dance of devotion.
Goutamkumar Oinam (Public Domain)
Lastly, the Cheirao Ching Kaaba emerges as a unique phenomenon among all Ching Kaaba events. Unlike its counterparts, it isn’t dedicated to a singular deity. Instead, it honors a multitude of traditional Meitei gods and goddesses, their shrines perched atop the Cheirao Ching hill nestled in the heart of the Imphal valley. This extraordinary observance takes place on the new year day, known as Cheiraoba or Sajibu Nongma Paanba Cheiraoba, according to the Meitei lunar calendar—a moment when the veil between the mortal and divine realms grows thin.
And then, the Cheirao Ching Kaaba—a symphony of gods and goddesses, their shrines like jewels atop the Imphal valley’s crown. As the new year dawns, Meiteis gather, their hearts a mosaic of reverence. The Cheiraoba festival weaves them together, threads of hope and resilience, binding past and future.
As the sun dips below the horizon, casting a warm glow upon the ancient hills, we find ourselves at the crossroads of faith and heritage.
Goutamkumar Oinam (Public Domain)
In this luminous conclusion, we honor tradition, celebrate diversity, and embrace the sacred. For the Meitei community, these hills are not mere landforms; they are portals to the numinous. And so, as the stars emerge, we leave footprints of devotion, knowing that time immemorial cradles our faith, our stories, and our shared humanity.
Special Notes:
* In linguistic, ethnic as well as cultural aspects, Meitei is synonymous with Meetei, Mitei, Meithei, Manipuri, Kanglei, Poirei, etc.
* Traditional Meitei ethnic religion is also known as Sanamahism (or Sanamahi religion), Sannamahism (or Sannamahi religion), Lainingthouism (or Lainingthou religion), Kangleism, Meiteism, Meeteism, Miteism, Meitheism, Manipurism, etc.
* In religious aspect, a believer or a follower or a theologist of the traditional Meitei religion is known as Sanamahist, Sannamahist, Lainingthouist, Kangleist, Meiteist, Meeteist, Miteist, Meitheist, Manipurist, etc.
* Ancient land of the Meitei speaking people (alias Manipuri speaking people) is known as Kangleipak, Meiteileipak, Meeteileipak, Miteileipak, Meiteileibak, Meeteileibak, Miteileibak, Meitrabak, Poireilam, Tilli Koktong, Leikoilel, Leikoilen, Sanaleipak, Sanaleibak, Sannaleipak, Sannaleibak, etc. In present day, most of its parts is located in what we now call Manipur state, with few others in the state's neighboring places.
* In English terms, the Meitei realm is also known as Meiteidom, Meeteidom, Miteidom, Meitheidom, Manipuridom, Kangleidom, Meiteisphere, Meeteisphere, Miteisphere, Meitheisphere, Manipurisphere, Kangleisphere, etc.
