Guwahati: Amidst the current challenges faced by Manipur, devotees, especially the students preparing for their board examinations and their families, congregated at the sacred Hiyangthang Lairembi temple in the Northeast state’s Imphal West district on Wednesday on the occasion of Vasant Panchami.
The festival, locally known as Fairengi Mangani, is dedicated to Saraswati, the Goddess of Learning and signifies the arrival of spring.
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The Hiyangthang Lairembi temple witnessed a surge of devotees, particularly the 12th-grade students, seeking blessings for their academic success. Ibeyaima, a vendor near the temple, noted the heightened demand for offerings on this special day.
“The temple opens only on specific days like the full moon, new moon and festive occasions like Bor Puja, Durga Puja, or Fairengi Mangani. Devotees exclusively offer items for worship on these days,” said Ibeyaima.
However, beyond academic aspirations, many devotees used this spiritual gathering as an opportunity to pray for the swift resolution of the ongoing ethnic conflict that has disrupted lives in Manipur. Ibeyaima, reflecting the sentiments of the people of the state, expressed her hope for an end to the conflict, acknowledging its profound impact on the lives of the people.
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“We are all suffering. Our lives are thrown into chaos by this conflict. I want this conflict to end as soon as possible,” Ibeyaima added.
Meisnam Yohenba, a physics teacher at HHD Academy, emphasised the tradition of seeking blessings for academic success during this festival. He mentioned escorting 40 students from his school hostel and highlighted the convention to bring students to pray to Hiyangthang Lairembi for good performance in their board exams.
Saranthem Medha, a mother waiting for her daughter Caroline Chanu, voiced her hope for a swift resolution to the ongoing ethnic conflict. She expressed her worry about the impact of the conflict on the academic atmosphere of the students and the overall disruption it has caused.
“I am here for my daughter who is appearing for her 12th exams. She has gone inside the temple to pray to clear her exams with flying colours. The prevailing situation is upsetting our lives, particularly the academic atmosphere of the students. I pray the unrest ends soon,” Medha said.
The spiritual gathering on Vasant Panchami has become more than a plea for academic success; it serves as a symbolic prayer for peace and normalcy in Manipur during these challenging times.