Ningol Chakkouba
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: October 28 2011 -

Ningol Chakkouba at Imphal :: 8th Nov, 2010

Ningol Chakkouba is one of those festivities most cherished by the Meitei. In a nutshell this festivity which is usually celebrated at the closing period of the year marks a family reunion.

But this family reunion is of a different type than the normal. Women of the household, who after marriage, have moved to different and more distant climes are welcomed back by their parents and male siblings just to spend one day to share a meal, and to reminiscence a past life, and to strengthen family ties.

Small gifts are exchanged and an exchange of vows is made to make sure next year's Ningol Chakkouba is observed with dedication. This token exchange of gifts, in the last couple of decades has been cheapened and distorted by the nouveau riche who have made the family's exchange of gifts into a brazen display of wealth.

The history of Ningol Chakkouba has not been well documented in the royal chronicles, but it seems prior to the accession of Chandrakirti to the throne of Manipur, the festival was carried out on lines of Bhratiya Dritya, a festival of the Hindus, particularly in North India, wherein, annually, married female members used to invite their male siblings for lunch. All this changed with the accession of Chandrakirti to the throne. It would be a change which would alter history and effect Manipuri society.

Strangely enough this momentous change was affected by family constraints. Chandrakirti was harried by his close female relatives who jostled amongst themselves to have him come over to their respective houses for a luncheon. Chandrakirti was at a fix, he had high regard and love for his female siblings.

In a royal decision he declared that he would call all his near female siblings for lunch, and this thoughtful man also made the royal edict that from the next year onwards, each and every Meitei family must follow suit.

This decision, according to scholar, historian and writer Shri RK Jhalajit Singh, Padma Shri was probably made after 1850.

The change in the observation of the function also entailed a change in nomenclature. The festival now was referred to as Bhogini Bhujon.

In recent times, more pertinently after the passing away of Maharaj Churachand, the name of the festival was quietly changed to Ningol Chakkouba. Nothing much has changed except for the senseless race to outdo each other in exchange of gifts.

But may we share a few moments amongst ourselves. Ningol Chakkouba is not a religious function.

Whether the Meeties are, as they are, or Hindus or Christians, they will celebrate Ningol Chakkouba.

After all, in the name of any creed, belief or religion, can anyone of us erase or obliterate the love we have for parents and brothers and sisters?

And further do we not see and acknowledge our other brothers and sisters in the distance? Stay away your hand from the plate, go out, smile and welcome them, its not your food you are providing them, it's the trust of kindred.

All religions are great, all believers are worthy, we pay respect to all religions and those who nurture them. Let not their faith in their gods waver even for a day, and let us all wish them the very best.

Yet having served our Gods with fervor and total conviction, let us also, as human beings, and more so, as kindred, seek each other out each year to rekindle the love our past generations had bestowed on us.

Even if you have hardened your feelings against a particular community, do give a small sweet to a child in an orphanage on Ningol Chakkouba, it will make your heart skip a beat.

Its Ningol Chakkouba, and to all women in Manipur we bow our heads in respect.