Kabui Gaan Ngai festival celebrated with religious fervour
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, January 04 2023: Kabui Union Manipur organised the state level Kabui Gaan Ngai festival 2023 under the theme 'Gaan Ngai is cultural legacy of Kabui' at Keikhu Kabui village in Imphal East district on Wednesday.

The festival kicked off with local elders performing the traditional 'Hoi Laoba and the youth performing Meiba Chingba (extracting the sacred fire by rubbing two woods) ritual along with religious rites like 'Yupan Thaba' and drumming Meikao Khonglon Punglon followed by presentation of cultural dances and songs of Kabui community.

MAHUD minister Yumnam Khemchand, who attended the celebration as chief guest, said that Gaan Ngai marks the day when Kabui community first made fire by rubbing two woods together and it is a matter of pride for the community to keep alive the tradition till date.

The fire extracted from the process is regarded as sacred fire and he feels blessed to attend such a ceremony, he said.

"Understanding our forefathers and following the path they laid down for us is the nature of developed civilisation", the minister said while calling for upholding traditions, culture and heritage preserved by the forefathers for the future generations.

He also assured of making his contributions in celebrating the festival in a grander scale in the coming years.

Kabui Union Manipur president Dr K Hera Kabui, who presided over the celebration, said that the festival gives the message of upholding the traditions and heritage left by the forefathers.

It is the identity of Kabui community and no major community or organisation could claim the festival as theirs.

He urged public leaders to understand the ST list in the Constitution of India and refrain from referring Gaan Ngai as a festival of Zeliangrong community in his greetings and messages.

The very origin of Zeliangrong is still a big question, ne said while urging public leaders, especially those in the government to refrain from misaligning the history of Kabui community.

There is no problem in people of other communities participating or celebrating the festival, and that has been the tradition for ages.

However, some groups of people, who have migrated to another community, should not claim their ownership on the festival as such claims do not have any basis, Hera maintained.

Further stating that the origin of Kabui community is clearly recorded in Cheitharol Kumbaba, he also suggested that the government should strive to understand the history and act accordingly to protect, preserve and uphold the history, culture, tradition, language and heritage of Kabui community.

Langthabal MLA Karam Shyam, Sagolband MLA RK Imo, Kshetrigao MLA Sheikh Noorul Hassan, Keirao MLA Lourembam Rameshwar, Keikhu Pei 'luprakpu' Lankulungpu Kabui, Federation of Haomee president Sapamcha Jadumani, UCM president Konthoujam Joychandra, Meetei Leepun president M Pramot and Keke Moirang Kangleirol Kanba Lup member Gouro Moirangcha were also present on the occasion as guests of honour.

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