Khwairamband crowded ahead of Ningol Chakkouba
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 26 2022:
A day ahead of the state's largest festival Ningol Chakkouba, Khwairamband Keithel on Wednesday witnessed huge turn-out of people from different parts of the state visiting the capital city market to buy gifts for their near and dear ones.
Crowds swelled in Thangal and Paona Keithel as well as Khwairamband Ima Keithel from the morning till late evening.
Presenting gifts to the married women has been an inseparable part of the festival, which celebrates the familial bonding between brothers and sisters.
Though it is a festival of Meetei community, its popularity is growing every year among other indigenous communities of the state as they are also celebrating the festival in its true essence.
Thokchom Radhapyari, a woman, who came to Khwairamband Keithel for shopping, told The People's Chronicle that the festival renews and strengthens the bond between married women and their maternal homes.
Enjoying lunch together and presenting gifts are the tradition that signifies the value of the festival.
Unfortunately, presenting gifts have become a sort of competition in some sections of the society in the last few decades and this trend degrades the essence of the festival.
One should not get carried away by the value of the gifts but embrace the value of the tradition of a family reunion, she said.
It is time the public understand the negative impact of this trend and stop it, she opined.
She further said that she came to the market to buy gifts as her family would be celebrating the festival on Thursday.
She is buying simple gifts which her family could easily afford.
It is unfortunate to see substantial hike in price of commodities by the shopkeepers taking advantage of the festival.
The government authority should check such acts and take up measures to prevent exorbitant price hike, she said.
Radhapyari also said that she is delighted to see people of other communities celebrating the festival and expressed hope that the festival will remain as a catalyst for bringing emotional integration not only between brothers and sisters but also among the different communities of the state.