Ichum Lairembi is a goddess in
Sanamahism
Sanamahism , also known as Meiteism , or Lainingthouism is an ethnic religion of the Meitei people of Manipur, in Northeast India. It is a polytheistic religion and is named after Lainingthou Sanamahi, one of the most important deities of ...
, the indigenous religion of
Manipur
Manipur () is a state in northeastern India with Imphal as its capital. It borders the Indian states of Assam to the west, Mizoram to the south, and Nagaland to the north and shares the international border with Myanmar, specifically t ...
. Her major cult centre of worship is located in
Chakpa Khurkhul (
Lois
Lois is a common English name from the New Testament. Paul the Apostle mentions Lois, the pious grandmother of Saint Timothy in the Second Epistle to Timothy (commending her for her faith in 2 Timothy 1:5). The name was first used by English C ...
).
Legends
According to legends, the power of Ichum Lairembi resides at Thingba Maran Ngambi, which is why all the offerings brought to Ichum Lairembi are offered there.
In a legend, Princess
Thoibi
Moirang Thoibi () or Ewanglon Thoibi () is the main character of the Khamba Thoibi story from ancient Moirang Kangleirol legends.Freda Marie Houlston Bedi (1967). Social Welfare. Publications Division. She is a princess of the Ancient Moirang k ...
of
Ancient Moirang
Ancient Moirang, also known as Keke Moirang, was an ancient civilization that flourished in the southern plains of the present day Manipur, India. The Keke Kangla served as the capital city of the kingdom since time immemorial. The major body of a ...
was once ordered by the King of Moirang to throw an
egg
An egg is an organic vessel grown by an animal to carry a possibly fertilized egg cell (a zygote) and to incubate from it an embryo within the egg until the embryo has become an animal fetus that can survive on its own, at which point the ...
. So, she and her slaves proceeded to a journey to carry on the task. The egg they brought fell on ground and got broken at the area of Goddess ''Ichum Lairembi'' in
Khurkhul
Khurkhul is a village in the Imphal West district in Manipur, India. It is located north of Lamphelpat and from the state capital Imphal
Imphal (; , ) is the capital city of the Indian state of Manipur. The metropolitan centre of the ci ...
. From that time onwards, they started to live in the place and celebrate
Lai Haraoba
Lai Haraoba (, ), also known as Umang Lai Haraoba, is a classical,———— ritualistic, theatrical dance and music festival, annually celebrated by the Meitei people, to please the Umang Lai deities of the traditional Meitei religion (San ...
festival to please Goddess ''Ichum Lairembi''.
Festival
Every year, the villagers offer their yearly harvest to the goddess which the villagers call the ceremony as
CHAKLONG KATPA. On this very day, the villagers offer paddy,vegetables,sweets,etc. One of the most sacred practice performed on the day is
SAIREN KATPA (a sacrifice usually, a pig). What made it so special about it is, the pig, during the sacrifice should not squeal. If it squeal, it is considered a bad sign for the year. Every year, boys above 21Years of age are newly registered as the member to serve the goddess, the practice is called
THOU CHANBA.
The sacred
Lai Haraoba
Lai Haraoba (, ), also known as Umang Lai Haraoba, is a classical,———— ritualistic, theatrical dance and music festival, annually celebrated by the Meitei people, to please the Umang Lai deities of the traditional Meitei religion (San ...
festival is celebrated in honor Goddess Ichum Lairembi.(). Among the places of celebrations of the holy festival,
Khurkhul
Khurkhul is a village in the Imphal West district in Manipur, India. It is located north of Lamphelpat and from the state capital Imphal
Imphal (; , ) is the capital city of the Indian state of Manipur. The metropolitan centre of the ci ...
is the predominant one.
See also
*
Irai Leima
Irai Leima is a goddess in Sanamahism, the indigenous religion of Manipur. She is the goddess and the divine female personification of water and aquatic life. She is the consort of Irai Ningthou (literally, ''king of water''). Both are regarded ...
*
Irai Ningthou
Irai Ningthou is a God in Sanamahism, the indigenous religion of Manipur. He is the God and the divine male personification of water and the consort of Irai Leima. He mainly dwells in the rivers and lakes.
Worship
If someone becomes ill afte ...
References
External links
The Geography Of Manipur_INTERNET ARCHIVE*
* Registrar, India Office of the (1976). Census of India, 1971: A-10:B. District census handbook. Town & village directory. Primary census abstract [name of district. Controller of Publications.
* Manipur, India Director of Census Operations (1973). District Census Handbook: Manipur Central District. Census Operations, Manipur.
{{Sanamahi1
Meitei goddesses