Over 200 pilgrims make way to Mt Koubru peak UKAL, KKL, MYO perform rites at foothills

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Apr 21 : Titular king and Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba visited the shrine of Ibudhou Awang Asuppa at Koubru Leikha today and attended a ritual arranged by Umanglai Kanba Apunba Lup (UKAL), Kangleipak Kanba Lup (KKL) and Manipur Youth Organisation (MYO) there.
Even as the titular King attended the rituals at Koubru Leikha, about 200 pilgrims have made their way up Mt Koubru.
For generations, pilgrims particularly from the Meitei community have been trekking to the peak of Mt Koubru to offer prayers, generally one week after Sajibu Nongma Panba (Meitei Cheiraoba). This year Sajibu Nongma Panba Cheiraoba fell on April 13.
Taking the situation into consideration, especially the stand off over Mt Koubru in the past few days before an understanding was reached with the Government on April 20, strict security measures were taken up near the foothills of Mt Koubru. Earlier, a number of police personnel were deployed atop Mt Koubru and its surrounding areas, after a bridge leading to the peak of the mountain was found dismantled.
Four suspects were reportedly picked up for their alleged involvement in demolishing the said bridge and it was under this tense situation that strict security measures were taken up and the pilgrims made their way to Mt Koubru today.
Briefing media persons by the sideline of the rituals, Leishemba Sanajaoba said that scaling Mt Koubru during the Manipur calendar months of Sajibu and Inga is a tradition practised by Meetei/Meitei for ages.
Maintaining that today's pilgrimage and the ritual didn't intend to hurt the sentiments of any particular community but performed as per the traditions of Meetei/Meitei, the MP appealed all not to cause any sort of disturbance to pilgrims while performing their religious rites at the mountain in future.
Leishemba, without mentioning any community in particular, also appealed to the people of Manipur to refrain from indulging in activities which might hurt the sentiments of certain communities, stating that the recent misunderstanding pertaining to Mt Koubru was truly unfortunate.
Convenor of UKAL Mutum Maniton, on the other hand, stated that the rituals performed at the shrine of Ibudhou Awang Asuppa was not against any community.
Continuing that UKAL will support any development works taken up at the sacred sites of  Mt Koubru and Koubru Leikha, Maniton appealed to the people settled near the mountain range to extend their support to the development works at Mt Koubru as proposed by the Chief Minister.