Sacred Fire Place, Andro

Andro is a Scheduled Caste located on the eastern foothills of the Nongmaiching hill rang, approximately 27 Kms east of Imphal. The people are non-Hindus with a small population of Gouriya Vaishnavites  and Christians. The total population is around 10,000.

The important place of worship for the villagers of Andro is the Lai Haraopham located at the heart of the village. Here is a temple consecrated to Lord Panam Ningthou, the governing deity of Andro Village. Within this temple is the sacred Fire Place containing the sacred fire that, as legend goes, was brought here by Poireiton in mythical times. The belief is that the sacred fire has had been kept lit for centuries on end, and it cannot be put out at all. The dying of the sacred fire would mean the death of the Universe, so goes the saying.

Keeping in view the importance of the sacred fire of Andro in relation to mythological and pre-historical perspective, and its relevance to pre-historic and folklore studies, without losing sight of the point that the customary ritual has been in practice for centuries, State Archaeology, Manipur had declared the site, inclusive of the temple of Lord Panam Ningthou and the Sacred Fire Place within the temple, as protected under the provision of the Act of 1976. Total  area protected is 5,298.60 sq.m.