When the official ‘state level’ Lui-Ngai-Ni, the seed sowing festival of the Nagas in Manipur, was being organised at Kapaam village under Chandel district under the aegis of the United Naga Council (UNC), a group of people had also organised the same festival at a place in Imphal by terming it as ‘State Level Lui-Ngai-Ni’, the UNC said.
In a statement issued to Newmai News Network tonight, the United Naga Council said it was irked by such activities.
“Some unscrupulous self-styled and unmandated persons had organised a separate Lui-Ngai-Ni festival, 2023, at Tribal Research Institute (TRI), Chingmeirong in Imphal by hijacking the title ‘State Level Lui-Ngai-Ni' and the logo,” the UNC statement alleged.
In this regard, the UNC questioned the motives and intentions of the organisers of the festival at Tribal Research Institute, Chingmeirong in Imphal. The UNC also said that it “seriously views such activities as a divisive policy working hand in glove with some elements to divide the Nagas”. Hence, the UNC said it will be compelled to take up appropriate actions against those organisers.
The UNC clarified that it "always welcomes and encourages" anyone including villages and orgainisations to celebrate Lui-Ngai-Ni festival anywhere. “But, the UNC, being the custodian of Lui-Ngai-Ni festival, constitutes ‘State Level Organising Committee’ every year”, said the Naga body, adding, “As such, there cannot be another ‘State Level Lui-Ngai-Ni' anywhere other than the event organised under the aegis of the United Naga Council.
Meanwhile, the UNC expressed its “heartfelt gratitude” to all the Nagas who had contributed and extended logistic support and their active participation at the Lui-Ngai-Ni festival, 2023, at Kapaam village in Chandel district which made the festival a grand success.
