Lui-Ngai-Ni celebrated with fanfare, message of peace
Plant saffron, blueberry and cashew nuts instead of poppy: Letpao
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR

Imphal, February 15 2023: The state level Lui-Ngai-Ni festival, 2023 organised by State Level Organising Committee in collaboration with United Naga Council (UNC) was celebrated at Kapaam village in Chandel district on Wednesday with water resources and relief & disaster management minister Awangbow Newmai as the chief guest.

Chandel Naga People's Organisation (CNPO) hosted the festival under the theme 'One Culture, One Destiny', which was celebrated with traditional gaiety and fervour.

Addressing the gathering, Awangbow Newmai said, "We need to preserve the cultures inherited from our forefathers as preservation of culture is as much important as preserving folk songs and dances.

We need to espouse peace and show people what peace is.

Respect is the key to peace" .

The chief guest also pointed out that Manipur is one of the most enchanting states blessed with scenic landscape and conveyed his wish for a successful and most prosperous year ahead.

Lui-Ngai-Ni is the collective seed sowing festival of Naga tribes of Manipur.

The festival marks the onset of the seed sowing season and is celebrated every year with great zeal.

The Gods of crops are invoked during this festival to shower blessings on the seeds for a good harvest and general well-being of all.

Earlier, UNC president Ng Lorho hoisted the festival flag while Awangbow Newmai unveiled a monolith.

SB Borpha Moyon and his wife presented seeds of different crops to representatives of different Naga tribes, who attended the festival.

Veterinary & animal husbandry, and transport minister Khashim Vashum, in his address, recalled the efforts to bring into shape the 'Lui-Ngai-Ni' as a common festival of the Nagas living in the state.

He himself was actively involved in shaping the festival around 30 years ago, Khashim recounted.

The concept of the seed showing festival was consolidated after a great deal of studies and consultations and christened as 'Lui-Ngai-Ni' in the year 1986, and its celebration took shape in 1987 .

The first celebration was held at Pologround, Imphal, he said.

According to UNC president Ng Lorho, the celebration of the festival under the theme 'One culture, One Destiny' is to show 'oneness in diversity' .

"The theme is to inculcate the Celebrants, young and old, to enfold the value of the system and abstract qualities of Naga culture.

It will determine how far we will go in life," he said.

Lorho observed that westernisation has deeply inflicted on the culture of Nagas, and added that the festival aims to imbibe the fundamental principle of social norms and value system.

"We aspire to have a nation where law and justice is the rule of law and where the lowly are secured," the UNC president contended.

The celebration of the festival is also a political message to a common destination and to rekindle the past glory, according to the UNC chief.

Ng Lorho also talked about the ongoing Naga peace process and said that Nagas hope for an acceptable and honourable solution based on the Framework Agreement.

"However, despite hectic negotiations for the past many years, the final agreement is yet to arrive at because of the nature of the issue is such that it takes time." "So, let us have patience and not be weary and succumb to any kind of piecemeal solution.

Let us stand firm and steadfast to our ground with one voice and one accord so as to bring peace to Nagas and northeast as well," he said.

Various activities like folk songs, cultural dances, blowing of Lui-Ngai-Ni trumpet, beating drums, lighting of Lui-Ngai-Ni fire and cultural dances from different Naga tribes were also performed at the event.

The blessing of seeds was invoked by the chief of Kapaam village SB Borpha Moyon.

Chandel MLA Ss Olish, Tamenglong MLA Janghemlung Panmei, Ukhrul MLA Ram Muivah, Karong MLA J Kumo Sha and other public leaders, ex-MLAs, ex-ADC chairman also attended the function.

Meanwhile, Tribal Affairs and Hills, Horticulture and Soil Conservation minister Letpao Haokip has opined that people should plant saffron, blueberry and cashew nuts which will give more benefits to the cultivators than cultivating poppy illegally.

Speaking during the Lui Ngai Ni festival celebrated at Tribal Research Institute, Chingmeirong, on Wednesday, the minister further appealed to the people to support the government's War on Drugs 2.0 for eradicating malaise of drugs from the state.

Instead of cultivating poppy illegally, people should plant saffron (Keshar), blueberry, avocado and cashew nuts which are in high demand and command mouthwatering market value so as to make Manipur a self-reliant state, he suggested.

Stating that students and teenagers below fourteen years of age are found using addictive substances, he appealed to the parents to discipline them in time instead of over protecting them.

There will be no future if parents fail to look after their children properly, he added.

In connection with Lui Ngai Ni festival, Letpao wished for a peaceful and prosperous Manipur.

Presided over by Hill Areas Committee chairman Dinganglung Gangmei, the celebration witnessed presentation of different war dances, cultural show and fashion show of various Naga tribes.

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