Imphal, Oct. 2: It's festive time in Manipur. The traditional festival of Mera Chaorel Houba got underway today with Panthoibi Eratpa (Panthoibi puja) celebrations. Preparations for Navratri and Durga Puja are also on in full swing.

To mark the beginning of Mera Chaorel Houba celebrations, the Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Board performed rituals at Kangla and Sanamahi temple. The festival is celebrated to seek the blessings of the almighty for peace and a bountiful harvest.

Chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh greeted the people on the eve of the festival. He said the festival shall further strengthen the bond of brotherhood among all the communities in the state for a more harmonious, peaceful and prosperous Manipur.

Every household offers prayers to the deity who is believed to reside in every house. The festival begins with the advent of the Mera month, according to the lunar calendar of the Meiteis, and will last for 15 days till Mera full moon.

The idols of Goddess Panthoibi were brought on palanquins to the pandals, accompanied with ritualistic dances and indigenous music.

The deity on tiger, believed to be the goddess of war, peace and wealth, is worshipped for a prosperous society. People pray for an end to all evil.

The Panthoibi Eratpa festival is similar to Navratri or Durga Puja. Arambam Uma Devi, a local resident, said, "We are children of the same God. I worship all the deities during Puja and eat vegetarian. Woman do not visit their parental homes during the festival."

Manipur celebrates its biggest Puja at Hiyangthang in Imphal West. Women throng the Hiyangthang Lairembi temple on Vaisakhi day to seek her blessings. Hiyangthang Lairembi is another image of Durga and the goddess of fertility.

During Panthoibi Iratpa celebrations, Wari Liba, an art of narrating stories about God, is performed in the afternoon. It is performed at Puja sites with narration of stories from the Mahabharat the and Ramayan as people wait for the Goddess to land on earth.

At dusk, traditional dances and devotional songs are performed in between rituals. In the morning, people hear pena (a musical instrument similar to the violin), which pays tribute to the might of the goddess. These performances are a part of the celebrations.

The Panthoibi Eratpa celebration is similar to the traditional Lai Haraoba festival of Manipur. Preparations for Durga Puja and Kali Puja in and around Imphal are also on. Non-locals residing in the state also celebrate the Pujas in the Thangal Bazar area in the heart of the city.