Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba strongly opposed the recent ban on Meetei pilgrims visiting the Thangjing Hills shrine, describing it as a violation of religious freedom. He raised his concerns during a sideline event at Sana Konung, where he ceremonially flagged off a team from the Meitei Erol Eyel Loinasillol Apunba Lup (MEELAL), from Imphal to Tripura.
The Thangjing (Ching-Kaba) pilgrimage holds deep religious and cultural significance for the Meitei community, with sacred rituals performed at the hill shrine for generations. Sanajaoba criticized the ban as an unjust attempt to restrict the Meitei people’s access to their sacred traditions, which have been an integral part of their identity.
While speaking on the matter, Sanajaoba emphasized that the Meitei community’s rights to religious practices should be safeguarded, as guaranteed by the Constitution of India. He called on the concerned authorities to lift the ban and respect the religious freedoms of the people.
The MEELAL team, during their two-week stay in Tripura, will focus on promoting Meitei Mayek literacy within the diaspora community. The team will conduct workshops and training sessions, aiming to preserve the script and cultural practices of the Meitei people. The initiative seeks to reconnect the Meetei diaspora with their linguistic and cultural heritage, which has been eroded over time due to distance and marginalization.
In his closing remarks, Sanajaoba reiterated that preserving Meitei Mayek was not only essential for maintaining linguistic heritage but also for nurturing pride and self-identity among the Meitei people.
