Imphal, November 01 2008: THE "NINGOL Chakouba" which was marked by sisters or married women of a household have lunch together at their brothers' home celebrated widely across the state Friday concluded peacefully.

Except injuring to at least seven women and a driver in an accident occurred at Lilong along the Indo-Myanmar section of the NH-39 other major road accident reportedly during the celebration of the festival.

Police said the accident occurred when a taxi service Tata Magic van carrying seven women hit to a passenger bus when the bus de-accelerate the speed to pick up passenger to a bus stop on the road side at Lilong Bazar today at around 11.30 pm.

The condition of the driver who is also the owner of the Tata Magic named Yumnam Babuchanbi of Thoubal Haokha is critical as he received head injuries, hospital source said.

He is struggling for life at the JN hospital where he was referred from the RIMS hospital.

Out of the seven injured women, except a 58-year woman, others are young women.

All of them have been admitted at RIMS hospital.

Meanwhile, as like in previous years, this year also the festival is celebrated in a fanfare manner.

Even though individuals celebrated the festival in the traditional way by having lunch together with their married sisters, some civil organizations also celebrated the festival by arranging grant feast and inviting women of other communities settling in the state.

One such group feast which women from far off hill villages participated was organized at the residence of the titular king of Manipur, Sanajoaba at Rural Palace, Imphal.

The celebration was marked by offering of gifts by the tribal women who attended the feast with their traditional attires to the titular king and have audience with him.

The titular king also offered gifts to them.

Tribal women from far off places arrived a day ahead of the festival day and stay at the houses of the Meetei community which were arranged by the Manipur Peace and Integrity Council, Imphal who host the feast.

Other civil organizations also hosted feasts at different places in which women of different communities and destitute women lodging at different destitute homes also attended.

The Ningol Chakouba festival is observed on the second day of the new moon in the Manipuri month of Hiyangei (October or November).

In this festival, married women pay a visit to her parental house along with her children to revive familial ties.

The festival is celebrated once every year.

Sisters or married women of a household are invited by their families and brothers to lunch and are given gifts and presents.

The sisters in turn customarily bring fruits and sweets for their brothers and their families.

These are however, only the outward manifestations of the festival.

The true essence of this auspicious day lies in the celebration of the beauty of familial bonds shared between daughters and fathers and also between brothers and sisters.

Among the many festivals celebrated in the Meetei world, Ningol Ckouba is one to which every Meetei women keenly look forward every coming year.

It is celebrated in the same spirit as the festival known as Rakhi observed among the North Indians and other parts of India where the spirit of the festival is to celebrate and strengthen the bond between sisters and brothers.

The only difference is, in the case of Ningol Chakouba, the sisters are given primary importance and the celebration observed is in their honour.

It is a festival awaited eagerly by every Meetei women with a lot of enthusiasm.

The women come to their parental homes dressed in their best fineries along with their children and are extended a warm welcome by their families.

They are treated to a grand feast and showered with gifts and presents.

The sisters in turn give their blessings to their brothers.

Ningol Chakouba is also a form of family reunion and a perfect opportunity for reviving and nurturing familial ties.

Of late, the festival is also observed by some of the Manipuri Muslims and other communities as well as non-Manipuris residing in the state.

At Moreh also the All Community Development Organisation Moreh, ACAM jointly with the All Manipur Ethical Socio Cultural Organisation, AMESCO hosted a grant feast to mark the celebration of the festival at St Kg High School.

Womenfolk of different communities residing in the Moreh area were invited in the feast.

Speaking at the function organized in connection with the celebration, Pachot Kom, chief of the Khudengthabi village has said that without participation of the tribal women, the celebration of the festival in the state could not be said a complete one.

Leaders of various communities and civil organizations took part in the function organized in connection with the festival.

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