Kabui denizens denounce claim over Gaan Ngai Fest
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 26 2022: Denouncing any attempts to claim ownership of Gaan Ngai festival, which has been part of the Kabui community since time immemorial, by any other community; Mahabali Kabui Youth Club, Kabui Union Manipur and Kabui Customary Council Manipur jointly staged a sit-in protest at Mahabali on Monday.

Speaking on the sidelines, Mahabali Kabui Khul Women Society president Kamei Khambi Kabui cautioned that allowing any other community to claim ownership over Gaan Ngai Festival, which is inherently a Kabui festival, would lead to disintegration of Manipur.

If the government believes Gaan Ngai festival belongs to Zeliangrong, it will be a government which does not even know the history of the state it is governing.

Loss of Kabui culture is similar to losing part of Manipur's culture, she said, while expressing her dissatisfaction over the government's silence on the matter till date.

She further said that the lack of any action on part of the government has raised suspicions of any hidden agenda, while warning of possible intense agitation if the government continues to feign ignorance.

MKU president Dr Hira Kabui said that the Kabui people will not tolerate any attempts by those who had abandoned their original culture, religion and traditions to follow another's cultural traditions and religion to claim ownership over the Gaan Ngai festival.

He then said that the matter is being put forward to the government to prevent the situation from intensifying, adding that saving the culture, custom and tradition of Kabui community tantamount to saving the state.

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