As the COVID-19 situation in the country eases and religious places begin to reopen, pilgrims from Cachar in Assam and Manipur donning cultural attires flocked to offer prayers at the UmangLai (Forest god) at Leihou Leipokching (Siva Ching) of Sonai, Cachar district on Sunday.
After a yearlong halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the pilgrimage site was reopened for the first time with the permission of the deputy commissioner.
Speaking on the occasion, general secretary of Leihou Leipokching Umanglai Ngaksellup Sonai Cachar Laishom Biralal stated that Meitei pilgrims from Cachar and Manipur visited the religious site to worship the Umanglai.
Showing appreciation to the pilgrims who came from different states, president of Umanglai Ngaksellup Yumna Manikanta recalled the historical significance of the occasion.
He said the pilgrimage began when daughter of King Meidingu Madhuchandra, princess Thaballei Sana, who was queened Enduprava when she married Cachar king Krishna Chandra in the 18th century, visited the site every year during Ningol Chakkouba festival.
Umanglai are sacred groves where the forest god is believed to dewll and protect the forest, and worshipped by the Meitei community since ancient times.
