Ningol Chakkouba celebrated across state
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 28 2022:
Ningol Chakkouba, a traditional festival of Manipur that reaffirms the bond between brothers and sisters, was celebrated across the state on the second day of Meetei lunar month Hiyangei on Thursday.
Apart from families of Meetei community, people of different communities also joined the celebration by inviting their married daughters and sisters for a feast at maternal homes.
The festival also acts as an annual family reunion and married women are presented with gifts while in return the women wish good health and prosperity for male siblings.
In the valley area, women in traditional attires carrying baskets of food items and sweets and going to their maternal homes in the morning were the common sights.
Traffic jams occurred in the morning to pre-noon, and in the afternoon.
Blankets, potable water containers, jumbo boxes and electric rice cookers were among the most gifted items during the festival.
Speaking to The People's Chronicle, one Tourangbam Kheroda of Sagolband Moirang Leirak called the festival a special day, especially for the Ningols, as they will gather at their maternal homes for a feast and chit chat with their brothers and sisters while forgetting about the worries of life.
It is also delightful to see other communities joining in celebrating the festival, she said.
However, many families are deferring the day of the festival according to their convenience without much reason and this trend is unfortunate.
It would be better for all to celebrate the festival on the day itself and continue to uphold the tradition passed down the generations, she opined.
On the other hand, different organisations celebrated the festival at the community level at different locations by inviting Ningols of different indigenous communities.
Salai Apunba Nupi Lamjing Lup (SANULAL) celebrated the festival at Chingamakha Naorem Leikai.
It was the 13th edition of the festival that the organisation hosted for women, who no longer have anybody to invite them for the festival.
In a statement, SANUN-AL informed that local elder Thingnam Mangoljao, Khorirol president Waikhom Achouba and SANULAL advisor Ibethoi attended the event as presidium members.
Apart from presenting gifts to the participating women, SANULAL also presented winter clothes to elderly SANULAL supporters by visiting their homes.
Under the aegis of MLA Kh Joykisan, Thangmeiband Kendra Development Organisation also organised an all-community Ningol Chakkouba festival at Khoyathong community hall and the MLA's residence on Thursday.
Womenfolk belonging to tribal and business communities settling within Thangmeiband AC took part in the event.
Kangvai Battalion Assam Rifles of Inspector General Assam Rifles (South) also celebrated Ningol Chakkouba festival with girl students of Assam Rifles Centre of Educational Excellence, Kangvai in Churachandpur district on Thursday.
In a release, PRO IGAR (S) informed that the event was an initiative to acknowledge the efforts of the local Manipuri students for their important role in fostering peace and unity between all communities in the state along with the security forces.
The celebration was marked by the students presented with sweets and refreshment while the students blessed their brothers of Kangvai Battalion for their prosperous life.
A total of 30 girl students of the Centre attended the function and honoured the invitation extended by the Battalion.
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