Biren attends Sandhi Puja on Durga Ashtami

Imphal: Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh attended the Sandhi Puja on the Durga Ashtami day at Hiyangthang Lairembi temple where large number of people thronged to seek blessings from the Goddess.

“It was a truly a divine moment to attend the Sandhi Pujah at the Hiyangthang Lairembi Temple. May Maa Durga bless all of us with peace, harmony and prosperity in the state,” Biren writes on his Facebook wall

Sandhi Puja symbolises the victory of good over evil. The story behind this rite comes from the part of Maa Durga killing two demons Chanda and Munda. During this juncture the demons have shown huge disrespect to Maa Durga because she was a woman. Durga Mata took the avatar of Chamundi and killed both Chanda and Munda to avenge the wrongdoings. Sandhi Puja refers to this particular event of Chamundi killing Chanda and Munda, he writes.

The day is celebrated with much devotion in Imphal and other parts of Manipur valley.

Parallel to Durga Puja people in the state celebrates Panthoibi (a Goddess on tiger) Iratpa (puja) with great pomp and gaiety. It starts on the first day of Manipur month Mera, the day celebrated as Mera Chaoren Houba.