Imphal, Sept. 26: The Meitei community began Panthoibi Eratpa (Panthoibi Puja) with great enthusiasm while preparations for Durga Puja are also in full swing.

Celebrations of Panthoibi Eratpa were under way with the celebration of Lairema Chaorel Houba or Mera Chaorel Houba yesterday.

The idols of Goddess Panthoibi were brought on palanquins to the pandals in different parts of the valley, accompanied with ritualistic dances and music of the indigenous Manipuri Meiteis.

The deity on tiger, believed to be the goddess of war, peace and wealth, is worshipped for a prosperous society. People pray to bring an end to all forms of evil. The festival is celebrated with the advent of Mera Tha (Mera month), according to the lunar calendar of the Meiteis.

The Panthoibi Eratpa festival is similar to Navaratri or Durga Puja, though it begins earlier but ends on the same day. On the day of Vaisakhi, every year, one can see people worshipping the deity and making their wish.

A local woman, Khuraijam (O) Ibeyaima Devi, told The Telegraph, “I cannot differentiate. I worship all the goddesses during Puja. We humans originated from the same source and worship different idols according to our beliefs.”

Manipur celebrates its biggest Puja at Hiyangthang in Imphal West. Female devotees throng the Hiyangthang Lairembi temple on Vaisakhi day to pray to Hiyangthang Lairembi and seek her blessings to become a healthy mother. Hiyangthang Lairembi is another image of Durga, as believed and worshiped for the cause of fertility of women.

In the Panthoibi Iratpa celebration, Wari Liba, a narrative art of telling story, is performed in the afternoon. At dusk, traditional dances and devotional songs are performed in between rituals. In the early morning, people hear pena (musical instrument like violin), which pays tribute to the might of the goddess. These performances are daily routine of the celebration. The Panthoibi Eratpa celebration is similar to the traditional Lai Haraoba festival of Manipur.

Amidst the Panthoibi Eratpa festival, preparations for Durga Puja is up and running. Every Hindu residing in the state is eagerly waiting for the Pujas to begin and people are enjoying the preparations.

Suraj Chauriya, a youth painting the fence of a Durga Puja pandal in Imphal, said, “We have completed making the hall shed. We have almost completed the exterior decorations and we will take up painting of the idol soon.”