Kabui Student Union reacts to Gaan Ngai greetings
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 27 2021:
Reacting to Gaan Ngai greetings from Governor and Cabinet Minister, the All Manipur Kabui Students' Union has appealed all concerned including the Governor not to refer to the festival as a Zeliangrong festival.
In a statement, the union said the Gaan Ngai is one of the biggest customary festivals of the Kabui community.
The word "Gaan Ngai" is Kabui language and the festival falls on the 13th day of Wakching.
It is celebrated every year by the Kabui community in their localities/villages.
"Gaan" means light and "Ngai" means festival/celebration.
The Gaan Ngai is the customary/traditional extraction of sacred fire.
This fire is distributed to every household of Kabui by the youths of Khangchu in their respective locality/village to ward off evil spirits and to bring good health, peace and prosperity.
The sacred fire is lit in 3-legged kiln and fresh foods are cooked.
The foods are offered to the three legged kiln for good health, peace and prosperity.
Such customary festivals are announced by the Kabui Pei (Kabui Locality Authority) only, it said.
The Governor and Cabinet Ministers conveying the greeting of Gaan Ngai to the people of Zeliangrong is "not proper" .
Because, Zeliangrong is an 'organisation and not a community' .
"We appeal to Her Excellency and other Cabinet Ministers to greet Gaan Ngai as Kabui Gaan Ngai in future," it appealed.
Further, the union is disappointed with Agriculture Minister O Lukhoi for turning down the invitation to attend the State Level Kabui Gaan-Ngai 2021 at Duigaipangjang Kabui village on January 26 in the last minute, it said.