Gaan Ngai Festival kicks off : RK Ranjan calls for unity in organising event
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 15 2022: Union MoS for External Affairs Dr RK Ranjan has expressed discontent over the lack of unity in organising Gaan Ngai at the State level.

Speaking at the state level Gaan Ngai celebration organised by the State Level Committee at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen today the Union Minister expressed his desire to see participation by all at the State level observation of Gaan Ngai, the most important festival of Zeliangrong community.

Dr RK Ranjan added that if various leaders of Rongmei/Kabui tribes are really concerned about the festival, they should not be bothered by who is organising the function and they should have participated in the observation held at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen.

If all participate in the festival with the same zeal, Tingkao Ragwang (Supreme God) will be pleased, he added.

Gaan Ngai Festival kicks off

Speaking at the event which was started with the customary practice of 'Yoo Paan Thaba' and 'Meiba Chingba', the Minister added that the State level celebration of Gaan Ngai started in 2003 .

The celebration committee can make the celebration at the State level more engaging by incorporating competitiveness amongst tribes of the community which have settled at different parts of the State.

Competition in dance and other traditional practice can make the festival more engaging, he added.

Of the various reasons for the celebrations, its significance is for prosperity and for harmonious coexistence just like other festivals celebrated across the country on the same day, he added.

Chunkeirung Kamei, spokesperson of the celebration committee, prayed for the festival of Gaan Ngai to bring an end to the suffering of the people during the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He added that Gaan Ngai is a post-harvest festival celebrated annually, but some also consider it as a festival to mark the beginning of a new year.

Gaan Ngai is a religious festival which holds a very important place in the Zeliangrong community and there is a need for the youth to understand the importance of the festival, he added.

Cultural activities including various dances were shown at the event.

The programme was also attended by Prof Paonam Gunindro, Vice Chancellor, Manipur University of Culture and Lanjanai Kamei, president BJP ST Morcha.