Ritual only Gaan-Ngai festival call given
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 08 2024:
In view of the unrest situation gripping .
the state and imposition of night curfew, the State Level Gaan-Ngai Celebration Committee, Manipur has informed that the much-awaited Chakaan Gaan-Ngai festival of the Kabui (Rongmei), which falls on January 23 will be a low key affair this year limited to conduct of ritual and customary activities.
In a release, Celebration Committee president K Kumar Kabui stated that the ritual and customary activities of the festival include offering of ginger to the presiding deities, community meal (Zeigan Tumei), farewell ritual to the dead by offering food, drinks, eatables, fruits at the tomb as a tribute to the departed souls, invoking of paddy (Napkaomei) and worship of Goddesses and ancestors (Napchanmei), worshipping of seven brother gods, presiding deities of the village (Raren Loumei), etc., by offering fowls, wine, water, ginger, egg etc., invoking of souls (Bukaomei), offering of holy wine to Tingkao Ragwang and other lower realm gods (Zoupaan Keimei) for the well-being and prosperity of the village community.
Customary activities like admission of new members to respective dormitories; promotion from minor to major, formal admission of newly wedded women to women institution: promotion from Kangbon to Ganchang; Ganchang to Baanja; Baan-ja to Khunbu or Khullak, filling up vacant posts of Khunbu or Khullak or Taku to the Peikai are also under compulsion, the release added.
The president urged all Tingkao Ragwang Chapriak (TRC) believers and village authorities to avoid performance of folk dance, festival song competition, beating of traditional drum, shouting with noisy clamour, cracking jokes, etc., during the festival in expression of sharing sorrow and suffering of the families who lost their loved ones in the conflict.