Finer points of Gaan-Ngai stressed
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, January 07 2012:
Governor Gurbachan Jagat has called upon all the communities in Manipur to contribute their best towards sustaining the glorious tradition of peaceful co-existence.
Speaking at the inaugural of State Level Gaan-Ngai Festival, 2012 at BOAT here today as Chief Guest, Jagat observed that Gaan-Ngai marks the end of a year and heralds a new year.
It is the biggest annual festival of the Zeliangrong community lasting for five days or so during which homage is paid to the souls departed the year before.
It is also an occasion of worship, joy and merriment providing an opportunity not only to the Zeliangrong people but also to others to come together and work for shared goal of ensuring peace and harmony in the society, setting aside all differences.
While celebrating Gaan-Ngai, we should resolve to follow the spiritual and moral values that it conveys to make the festival significant.
He went on to point out that every festival of a community or a group of people has its own distinct character and message.
The spirit of Gaan-Ngai is to disseminate the message of peace, friendship, brotherhood, compassion and forgiveness among the people not only of Manipur but also to the mankind.
In the celebration of a festival, the edifice of oneness gets strengthened and ensuring sense of oneness and friendly feelings, which is the prerequisite to peaceful co-existence, is the need of the hour in today's trouble-torn society.
The Governor hoped that Gaan-Ngai will be celebrated in its true spirit and it will help in further strengthening the social fabric that binds the different groups of people together.
"In fact, peaceful co-existence is an age-old and glorious tradition of the people Manipur and we are proud of this tradition.
Hence, all the communities in Manipur should contribute their best to sustain this glorious tradition", he exhorted.
Principal Secretary LP Golmei, who is also the Chairman of State Level Gaan-Ngai Celebration Committee and Secretary of the Celebration Committee Norbert Disinang were also present at the occasion as President and Guest of Honour respectively.
Earlier, delivering the key note address, President of Zeliangrong Union (Assam, Manipur & Nagaland) Amu Kamei observed that Gaan-Ngai is a festival of the Zeliangrong community which is being celebrated since time immemorial but Zeliangrong Union started celebrating the festival in a big way since 1995 .
As part of the celebration, youths from Majorkhul, Sangaiprou, Sawombung, Ponringjang Kabui villages participated in Meiba Chingba, Khailapmei, etc.
Traditional dances were also performed to the beating of Khongluwan (large drum) .