Ganar Khan in Sylhet
On 1829, during the Islamic month of ‘Muharram’ & the Indian festival of ‘RathYatra’; Nawab Ganar Khan, Fauijdar of Sylhet from the invading Mughal Dynasty, warned the Ahoms, Bengalis & Manipuris to delay their festival by one day.
Raja Gambhir Singh challenged the Mughals & organised the ageold traditional Rath yatra guided by 500 Meitei Soldiers. The Mughals attacked the yatra & after an 8hr long battle, finally the Yatra was completed & Ganar Khan had to retreat.
… Before he introduced Ratha Yatra in Manipur, Gambhir Singh observed the festival in the British district of Sylhet in 1829 while he was staying there for the Khasi expedition. In the book Khasi Ngampa, it is clearly stated that Gambhir Singh came in conflict with the Muslims of the Sylhet when Gonar Khan, the Nawab of Sylhet, tried to defer the Ratha Jatra festival by one day as the Muharram and Ratha Yatra occurred on the same day. Nawab Gonar Khan made a plea to British to postpone the Hindu festival by one day. The British authority granted the request.
Gambhir Singh challenged it by observing the Ratha Yatra with the Hindus of Sylhet as scheduled. At the same time, the Muslims also started their festival and assaulted the Hindus to dissuade them from observing the festival.
This annoyed Gambhir Singh beyond measure. He ordered Thondri Singh Chanam Cha, Thingbura Nongyaipa Singh, Jai Singh Ashem Cha, and Jai Hey Samsetsapa, Megha Singh Thangchapa and Thingpuwa Phaogaishangpa to chastise the Muslims. The Meetei soldiers crushed the Muslim festival and raided the Muslims without mercy. This made Gambhir Singh happy, and he observed the Ratha Yatra festival successfully with the Hindus of Sylhet. Gambhir Singh was hailed as a protector of Hindus by the people of Sylhet.²
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govinda installation
He brought the image of Shri Govindajee¹ to Manipur in 1827. The Cheitharon Kumpapa records, “The year of Mutum Khompa 1749 Kum Sak…Saturday, the 23ʳᵈ Mera (13ᵗʰ October 1827 CE), Shrijut Maharaja left to receive Shrijee…Tuesday, the 26ᵗʰ of Mera (16ᵗʰ October 1827 CE), they left to receive Shri Govindajee. They abandoned the village of Montha Hao for not offering Chengkok² to Shri Govindajee. Shrijut Manipureshwar Chinglen Nongdren Khompa Maharaja also subdued 10 villages of Khongchai. Shrijut and the Maharani received Shri Govindajee at Kwairakpa Yiren. The image was escorted to the Palace. They also brought two top Kamars(guns). Wednesday, the 3ʳᵈ of Poinu (21ˢᵗ November 1827 CE), Shrijut Maharaja Gambhir Singh and the Maharani arrived at Chainapung with the idol of Shri Govindajee. Sunday, the 7ᵗʰ of Poinu (25ᵗʰ November 1827 CE), by command of the king, all the nobles built (temporary) temples in every places. They cut a three lam wide road from Bishnupur to Langthapal. The road from Vishnupur to Langthabal was decorated with banana plants …The Brahmins, the Vaishnops and the monks received the idol of Govindajee with love and emotion…The idol arrived in front of the Laipham Sanglen³ of the Langthapal Palace. It was installed in a Mandir⁴. Tuesday, the 14ᵗʰ of Yingen (18ᵗʰ July 1826 CE), the idol of Chaitanya and Nitai arrived from Mayang.”⁵
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In 1832 CE, Gambhir Singh introduced the Ratha Yatra festival in Manipur. The Cheitharon Kumpapa writes, “The year of Thangcham Urapa 1754 Kum Sak…Sunday, the 20ᵗʰ Kalen (20 May 1832 CE), Panda Pamon, an immigrant from Jaganath Khetra, began to build the idol of Jagannath…Friday, the 25ᵗʰ Kalen (25ᵗʰ May 1832 CE), they began to build a 12 wheeled chariot from the Mango trees which were cut from Heipok. Friday, the 1ˢᵗ Yingen (29ᵗʰ June 1832 CE), the image of Jaganath was consecrated. Saturday, the 2ⁿᵈ of Yingen (30ᵗʰ June 1832 CE), the devotees pulled the chariot. A sipahi named Ningthoucham Amuton died by the wheels of the chariot.”¹