Noney hosts state level Gaan-Ngai festival
Source: Chronicle News Service

Noney, January 23 2024: The State Level Gaan-Ngai Festival 2024 was celebrated on Tuesday at Longjang Village, Noney district, with cultural extravaganza performances and enthusiasm.

The Gaan-Ngai, the grandest festival of Zeliangrong community comprising Zemei, Liangmai, Rongmei and Inpui tribes, was attended by Tamenglong MLA Janghemlung Panmei as chief guest and Nungba MLA & HAC chairman Dinganlung Gangmei as functional president.

The other dignitaries present were Zeliangrong Union (Assam, Manipur & Nagaland) president Azang Rongmei, Rongmei Naga People's Organisation (Assam, Manipur & Nagaland) president Sabastian Kamei and Zeliangrong Baudi (Assam, Manipur & Nagaland) vice president Titus Kamei, as guests of honour, while Tribal Affairs director Hannah Kamei was special guest.

The festival began with traditional rites such as Joupan Keikhang (offering holy wine to the Almighty), Mai-Lapmei (extraction of fire), and Ho-Hoing, followed by folk songs, traditional drum-beating, cultural dances and an entertainment programme.

The organising committee served a Gaan-Ngai feast to all the participants.

Speaking on the occasion, MLA Janghemlung Panmei opined that the Gaan-Ngai festival should be celebrated in both the hill and the valley with harmony and peace.

"We must refine and preserve our rich cultural heritage and traditions in order to sustain our identity," he said and expressed gratitude to the organising committee for their commendable efforts in the successful celebration of event.

He also expressed his belief that celebrating such a sacred occasion will foster love, unity, and peace among them.

Janghemlung then urged the gathering to instil the spirit of love and forgiveness in the society, which would bring about growth and progress in the country.

On the other hand, HAC chairman Dinganlung Gangmei said that it was a great achievement and remarkable day that all civil societies of Zeliangrong came together under one roof to celebrate the Gaan-Ngai for the first time in Manipur.

He believed that this festival would bring peace and unity to Zeliangrong society, both in hills and valley.

"Though we are living in both hills and valley, we are culturally one," he said.

The world will change, but our tribe and identity will remain untouched, Dinganlung asserted, while encouraging the Zeliangrong brothers to join together and go forward with an optimistic outlook.

As a part of the festival cultural dances were performed by Longjang Catholic Church and Zimthiang Educational Sporting Association, Zuruan.

Thousands of people, including CSO leaders from different parts of Manipur attended the celebration with delight and enthusiasm.

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