Union Minister Jual Oram graces Liangmai Chagaa festival
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 02 2016:
The Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Jual Oram has promised to construct a community complex for the Liangmai people.
The Union Minister was at Tamei, Tamenglong district, on October 30 to grace the State level 'Chagaa Ngee', the Liangmai traditional festival.
The festival was celebrated under the theme, "To the roots" .
Member of Central Board of Film Certification, Linda Newmai, who is also an Advisory member of the National Rural Livelihood Mission attended the event as guest of honour while former MLA and President of Naga People's Front (NPF), Manipur unit, N Awangbou was the functional president.
Sitting MLA Z Kikhonbou Niumai, who is also the vice chairman of the Hill Area Committee (HAC) was the chief host while Rev Z Mairilungbou, Executive Secretary of LNBA was the Singkuh (Chief Priest) of the programme.
Chagaa Queen contest 2016 was also held during the celebration graced by Namsinrei Panmei, Chairman of the Autonomous District Council (ADC), Tamenglong.
Witingthuiliu Abonmai, Makhan (BA) was crowned the Chagaa Queen 2016 while Gloria Daimai (MA) of Tamenglong and Matungliu of Makhan were the first and second runner ups respectively.
Various Liangmai artistes enthralled the gathering with their performances.
The host villages of the festival were Tamei Namraining, Chiang and Piulekluang.
Display of cultural dances, cultural songs, Chagaa queen contest and Liangmai traditional sports were the prime features of the festival.
Adibo Newmei, convenor of the programme while speaking to Newmai News Network narrated about the Chagaa festival observed by Liangmai people in olden days.
According to him, it is one of the most important festivals of the Liangmai people.
"Many Liangmai elders have spoken differently about the meaning of Chagaa.
Some say it is a festival of the sanctification, some says the festival signifies the preparation for war or a war festival and other says it seeks God's blessing for the next year.
Most of them, however agree that it is a process of sanctification of the body and mind to get blessings in whatever form.
In short one can call it a blessed festival," Adibo Newmei said.
Chagaa festival is annually celebrated during the autumn season or Chariu Ting on Chaga Hiu (month of Chaga) which usually falls in the late part of October or the early part of November.
It depends on the sighting of the moon as the Liangmais follow the lunar calendar.
The Liangmais believe that God blesses the land during the autumn season especially in the month of Chaga.