Gaan Ngai greetings
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 24 2013:
Governor Gurbachan Jagat and Chief Minister O Ibobi have extended warm greetings to the people of the State, especially the Zeliangrong people, on the auspicious and joyous occasion of Gaan Ngai, 2013 .
In his greetings, Governor Gurbachan Jagat said that Gaan Ngai, which literally means Festival of Winter Season, is a festival of paying homage to the souls who have departed the previous year.
Pointing out that it symbolises the end of a year besides heralding a new one, the Governor said that Gaan Ngai, which was a ritualistic festival is now becoming a cultural event of the Zeliangrong community, and now joined in by all communities leading to strengthening the friendship and bond between the various communities.
The Governor also called upon the people to resolve to follow the spiritual and moral values of the festival to make
it meaningful.
At the same time, Chief Minister O Ibobi urged that all should follow the spiritual and moral precepts that it conveys and to create conditions in the social demeanour which would preserve and proliferate the gift.
Maintaining that a festival has to be celebrated in its true spirit, the Chief Minister said in enjoying a festival the edifice of oneness gets strengthened and preservation of this bond of oneness is what the Manipuri society calls for today in order to continue the glorious tradition of peaceful coexistence among the people belonging to various ethnic groups.
The Zeliangrong Youth Front (AMN) has also conveyed heartiest greetings to the people of the State and the Zeliangrong people in particular on the auspicious occasion of Chakan Gaan-Ngai, the biggest festival of the Zeliangrong people of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland.
At the same time, the State Level Gaan-Ngai Celebration Committee urged all the Zeliangrongs to come to the festival venue with traditional attires.