Manipur comes alive to spirit of Chakkouba
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 28 2022:
Ningol Chakkouba, one of the biggest festivals of Manipur symbolising strong family ties was celebrated on Thursday.
The non religious festival was also celebrated by the Manipuri diaspora living in different parts of the world.
Married women clad in traditional attire went to their parental houses for a special feast on this particular day.
This festival is usually celebrated in accordance with the Meetei lunar calendar.
It is celebrated on the second day of Hiyangei.
After the feast, parents, brothers offer a gift each to the married daughters and sisters.
In return, daughters and sisters will wish them a prosperous and happy future.
Interestingly, the festival which was earlier celebrated only by the Meiteis/Meeteis is now being celebrated by other communities of the State too.
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There were some posts of Ningol Chakkouba which went viral on social media.
Among others, a photo of a middle aged Manipuri woman in traditional attire driving an auto rickshaw with two of her children in the backseat to go for Ningol Chakkouba went viral on social media.
The post won the hearts of thousands of social media users as it drew Like and Love emojis and hundreds of comments from Facebook users.
Ahead of the festival, important market places of the State were crowded with people coming to buy gifts for their daughters and sisters.
CAF & PD Minister Leisangthem Susindro sponsored a Ningol Chakkouba festival at Tetaigaon Adampur, Bangladesh.
The event jointly hosted by Manipuri Youth Forum (MYF) Bangladesh and Patriotic Writers Forum (PWF) Manipur at Manipuri Cultural Complex at Bangladesh was attended by Rajya Sabha MP Leisemba Sanajaoba, CAF & PD Minister L Susindro, The People's Republic of Bangladesh retired Additional Secretary Kongkham Nilmoni Singha, MCC Bangladesh president L Jayenta Singha, PWF president Naoroibam Khamba Luwang and MYF Bangladesh president Hijam Sushil.
At the celebration, Leisemba Sanajaoba thanked the Meeteis/Meiteis living in Bangladesh for preserving the tradition of Manipur.
Saying that competition on gifts may take away the essence of Ningol Chakkouba as many poor brothers and fathers couldn't afford expensive gifts, the MP who also is also the titular king of Manipur appealed to every Manipuri to celebrate the festival in its true spirit.
Later, the MP and CAF&PD Minister prayed at the shrine of Ima Ujao Lairembi at Adampur Konagao.
They also interacted with the committee which runs the shrine.
L Susindro extended a cash assistance of Rs 20,000 to the committee for utilisation during Lai Haraoba.
The CAF&PD Minister said that he was sent by Chief Minister N Biren to meet the Manipuris settled in Bangladesh.
Saying that Meiteis living in Bangladesh should not be disheartened on being a minority, Susindro appealed to the Manipuris living in different parts of the world to stand for one another.