Greetings For Ningol Chakouba

Omila Thounaojam *

Ningols on the way to their homes during Ningol Chakkouba at Imphal on Novemver 15, 2012 :: Pix - Jinendra Maibam

Yet another Ningol's Day arrives and the air seems colored with best wishes and regards. This is special and grand in our place. Truly inspiring is the whole emotion that underlines the sublimity of the occasion.

Beautiful and more amazing look the market places where each rushes without a proper blink to fetch the item that they have come to pick. Ningols are excited and they wonder about what special to wear and look more glowing than ever adorning dresses and others sets to go with their dresses. It seems like the season of festivity has yet again done its magic.

Poor or rich, no matter what, all seems like living the moment. What is most secret is the truth that this happy season covers up the emotions of pain, worries and miseries for a while.

Seriously it's this charm that this fabulous day beholds for the Ningols that makes it one of the biggest festivals of Manipur.

Isn't it simply the best that there is something to look forward to with excitement and there is also this very genuine hope and desire to live the moment of being at home with dear and near ones and create the best's of memories? All the women folk get treated like the grandest of individuals and are given gifts wrapped up with love, care and blessings.

This day known as "the Ningol Chakouba" is dedicated to women and it is a day that marks the visit of prosperity too to every house that celebrates the entrance of the Ningols. It is so because the entire logic that binds up the whole occasion is enriching in itself.

The philosophy, according to what I believe is this that the Ningols receive love, respect and care from her brothers and family, also are regarded at the best and in return she blesses her maternal home-ground to remain blessed throughout.

I'm not at all claiming that a Ningol becomes a Goddess on this particular day. Instead I'm trying here to convey that the whole philosophy of the "life-bearer and nurturer" as a symbol of prosperity is upheld by this day. The one who is the source of life and is the epitome of the best guardian angel is regarded intensely by the occasion and as such, of all the days in a year, this day is reserved specially for "the woman".

The sweet relationship between a brother and a sister is also taken to that secret level wherein, the bond of siblings is strengthened beyond any logical explanation. When our time today demands a break away from anything personal that's going to hinder this very concept called "progress", such a day pulls back those who have become mesmerized by all the temporal glitters prevalent in this small mad world.

So charming is this process of bonding that irrespective of anything, people of this small state make sure that this day is celebrated with the most sophisticated of manners. It is no joke that the idea of gift is also redefined again by this day. May be there are also instances wherein, there are a whole lot of people who have degraded the beauty of this occasion by equating the prices of gifts as determiners of how much their brothers and family value them.

Gifts become weighing machines thereby (to some �brothers / sisters) to judge about understanding the emotions attached in the relationship. Excuse me please for saying this, but to hell with those who wants to corrupt this holy occasion. Don't participate at all if you carry along the emotions of a businessman/woman for, if people with such greed and selfish profit centric intention join the eventful day then it'll ruin the sanctity of this glorified day.

My write today is inspired by the best's of intentions to highlight upon a very optimistic side of this occasion � that's why I would like to convey this message �

Hope this Ningol Chakouba brings happiness to our world
Strengthens the bond of love between members of a family
Above all, may it launch forth seasons of prosperity and luck to this land!