IMPHAL, April 6: The Narasingh Maharaja Memorial Descendents’ Union (NMMDU) today appealed to the state government to observe the late king’s death anniversary on 29th day of Lamta of the Meitei calendar instead of April 11. This year, the anniversary falls on March 21.
King Narsingh died on the night of Wednesday, 28th of Lamta three hours before daybreak and his death anniversary has been observed on 29th Lamta since then according to the records maintained in the Cheitharol Kumbaba (royal chronicle) certified by Ngariyambam Kerani, RK Muhinikumar, president of NMMDU told a press conference at Yaiskul Moirangkhom here.
As per the Meitei custom, all religious ceremonies are held according to the Thaban (Meitei way of counting of date and month) and no function of any event was organized in Manipur based on the Gregorian calendar before 1891, Muhinikumar noted.
He also said, the people are confused about the way the ‘Narsingh Dedication Day’ is observed on April 11 every year which is similar to the death anniversary observation of the late king of Manipur.
Seeking opinion from all the experts and scholars in the state in this regard, the NMMDU president said it is acceptable to pay homage to the king for his dedication and valor on various dates, but the death anniversary of Narsingh should only be observed on 29th day of Lamta and that it would be the right way to organize the state function on this day.