Gaan-Ngai kicks off with pomp and traditional gaiety
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 07 2012: At the crack of dawn on the 13th day of Wakching of Manipuri lunar calendar today, an overjoyed village elder at Langjang village of Churachandpur district shouted, Aseirui Gaan-Ngai Houthe (Gaan-Ngai begins from today) .

Like this beautiful Rongmei village, which is situated around 4 kms from Bishnupur district headquarters, Zeliangrong people of Tingkao Ragwang faith of the State have begun the celebration of their biggest post harvest festival which will continue for five days with much pomp, gaiety and traditional fervour.

In Imphal, Governor Gurbachan Jagat declared 'Gaan-Ngai 2012 open' in a State level celebration organised at Bhagyachandra Open Air Theatre (BOAT) .

Unlike past years, this year witnessed two State level celebrations one at BOAT and another at Chinikon village of Senapati district, around 2 kms West of Bishnupur district headquarters.

Offering of holy wine to Tingkao Ragwang, shouting of hoi, extraction of sacred fire, lighting of festival torch, presentation of traditional dances and songs were the main highlights of both the celebrations.

Young girls perform a traditional dance to kick off the Gaan Ngai festival

Governor Gurbachan Jagat and Principal Secretary LP Gonmei were the chief guest and president of the celebration organised at BOAT.

Speaking at the occasion, Governor Gurbachan Jagat expressed hope that Gaan-Ngai would help in strengthening the social fabric that binds different groups of people together.

Maintaining that peaceful co-existence is the age-old and glorious tradition of the people of Manipur, the Governor said that people of the State must be proud of this tradition.

All communities of Manipur must contribute their best to sustain this tradition, he added.

Gurbachan Jagat said that while celebrating Gaan-Ngai, the spiritual and moral values that it conveys must be followed.

He added, ensuring sense of oneness and friendly feelings is the prerequisite to peaceful co-existence which is the need of the hour in Manipur.

In Chinikon village, another group who claim themselves as the original State Level Gaan-Ngai Celebration Committee organised the festival with the participation of people and cultural troupes from different villages.

Chief Minister O Ibobi and Agriculture Minister N Loken were supposed to grace the occasion as chief guest and president respectively.

However, with the enforcement of election code of conduct, both the dignitaries could not be present at the celebration.

United Committee Manipur (UCM) Yumnamcha Dilipkumar and Special Class Contractor Kakhangai Gonthangmei were the chief guest and president of the function.

State Level Gaan-Ngai Celebration Committee president Poudungai Kamson, Tingkao Ragwang Chapriak (Assam, Manipur, Nagaland) representatives M Lairenjao and Chaoba Kamson and former Chief of Chinikon village, Chingkhudungphu were also members of the dais.

Speaking at the occasion, Yumnamcha Dilipkumar expressed concern over the division of State Level Gaan-Ngai Celebration Committee into two groups.

Maintaining that significance of Tingkao Rangwang, the indigenous religion of Zeliangrong people, must be made known to everybody, Yumnamcha Dilipkumar assured the gathering that UCM would try its level best in merging the two groups into one.

Urging the Zeliangrong people to uphold and preserve the indigenous religion of Tingkao Ragwang, Dilipkumar expressed concern that people of this indigenous faith have become minority in hill areas of the State.

Remembering the works of Haipou Jadonang and Rani Gaidinliu, Dilipkumar urged people of different communities of the State to live together in harmony.

SLGCC president Poudungai Kamson said that mere presentation of dance, music and shouting of hoi does not complete the celebration of Gaan-Ngai.

There are many other important religious rituals which are to be compulsorily performed during the festival.

A book entitled, Gaan-Ngai, published by State Level Gaan-Ngai Celebration Committee was also released by Yumnamcha Dilipkumar during the celebration.