[ Prem Chetry ]
RAHUNG, 5 Feb: The Sartang community of Chenden (Rahung), Tinghey (9 Mile), Warjung, Shutu (Darbu), and 6 Mile areas celebrated Lha Shoiba, a centuries-old weeklong religious festival, at Old Rahung village in West Kameng district.
The festivities concluded on Sunday.
While ‘Lha’ stands for god, ‘Saiba’ refers to conducting rituals to gratify Phu Manzang Mani, the mountain deity of good harvest, who is also believed to protect the people from calamities and ensure their wellbeing.
“Lha Saiba is a centuries-old religious belief, and it is celebrated since time immemorial. In this ritual, we make offerings of food, fruits and other eatables in order to gratify and seek blessings from our guardian deity Phu Manzang Mani,” said Tsering Wangchu Ngoimu, a resident of the village.
The head priest of the village led the ritual, which includes offering of cheese and smoked fish, besides fruits, cuisines, and local wine. The villagers gathered at the ritual ground and made offerings, seeking the deity’s blessings.
The five-day rituals included driving off of evil spirits and other negativities from the village, and a life-releasing ceremony, in which a couple of cows were released as offerings to Phu Manzang Mani.
