Liangmais live up to Chagah festive spirit
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network

Imphal, October 30 2012: The 'Chagah Festival, 2012' of Liangmai community was celebrated today at Taphou Liangmai, Senapati district headquarters with festive fervour under the theme 'Culture Identifies a Community' .

The festival began with special activities of traditional portent with igniting sacred fire whose fresh glow representing hearts and the omen reading from the war sport "Peng Kepbo," a traditional mode of archery targeting a wooden human figurine.

The figurine satiates the performer's belief if the arrows hit the head, chest and navel or belly as signs of success.

Traditionally, Liangmai community celebrates the festival for 5-7 days with delicious dishes and hallowing drinks, etc.

Speaking on the occasion, MLA of Mao A/C L Dikho said that Liangmai community, which has rich culture and tradition, can be seen growing fast today.

He hailed that all the cultural dances and other colourful performances shown in the festival were really striking.

Nonetheless, the MLA suggested that the tribal communities in the state should pay more attention to preservation of their cultural heritage to fulfill the blessing of God.

'Chagah Festival, 2012/ of Liangmai community

MLA Dikho also donated Rs 50,000 to the organizing committee of the festival.

Z Solomon, Joint Director of Tribal Research Institute (TRI), who was also present during the celebration, announced that TRI will organize a cultural festival of tribal on December 8-10.For this, the Central Government has sanctioned Rs 10 lakh and another Rs 10 lakh by the state Government.

He appealed to Liangmai community to take part in the festival during which a craft exhibition will also be held.

Solomon later donated Rs 5,000 to the festival organizing committee.

Different indigenous games, cultural and folk dances, display of traditional violin, special music, Chaga Kuang-Chaga, Piang Ponbo were main highlights of the festival.

Kaikhamang Daimai, retired Director of TRI, in his message dispatched to the organising committee said that Chagah festival is one of the most celebrated festivals of the Liangmais.

It is rather a war festival on one hand and festival of sanctification on the other, his message added.

Practically, it is a festival of male members of the society, he further said, adding that traditionally, all male members had to observe a strict food restriction and keep themselves physically clean as soon as the moon appears in the sky till the celebration is over.

All kinds of creeper foods are prohibited particularly for grown up people, Daimai said in his message.

He also said that the belief behind the food restriction was that if any one consumes the creeper food like pumpkin, bean, cucumber, etc., the creeper would bind their legs when they go for hunting and other games.

The Liangmais are one of the indigenous inhabitants of the Northeastern region of India.

They are found scattered in the state of Manipur and Nagaland but mainly concentrated in the district of Tamenglong in Manipur and Peren in Nagaland.