Ningol Chakouba, the biggest festival of Manipuris, was celebrated in a grand manner throughout the state on Saturday with various organisations hosting feasts for the married women hailing from several communities to celebrate the festival.
Under the banner of ‘Chingtam Ningol Chakouba’, the Indigenous Minority Socio Cultural Organisation Manipur (IMSCOM), Indigenous Minority Organisation Manipur (IMOM), United peoples’ Front (UPF) Manipur, Haomee Research Guild Manipur (HRGM), National Identity Protection Council (NIPCO) and Manipur Peace and Integrity (MAPI) Council organised the celebration at Khunthonghanbi Shanglen of the DM University at Thangmeiband in Imphal West.
The celebration was attended by attended by president of IMOM Medum Maring; president of UPF N Rupachandra; chairman of Hao Mee Research Guild Manipur (HRGM) Robin Shinglai; president of NIPCO Th Manihar; and president in-charge of MAPI Council KC Romeo as presidium members
After the grand feast, simple gifts were also presented to the women who took part in the occasion.
Also, under the theme of maintaining the age-old relationship between various ethnic communities settling in the state, the All Manipur Ethnical Socio-cultural Organization (AMESCO) celebrated the festival in an event organised at Standard Robarth School in Canchipur, Imphal West.
As many as 350 women belonging to various ethnic communities such as Maring, Chothe, Kabui and Meitei Muslim from many places of state came to attend the event. A grand feast and presentation of gifts to the invitees marked the occasion.
Speaking at the function, president, AMESCO BK Moirangcha said that Ningol Chakouba is one of the traditional festivals of Manipur that symbolises the bonding of brothers and sisters. AMESCO has been organising Ningol Chakouba since 1993 with the ideal of strengthening the age-old relationship between various ethnic communities of the state and maintaining unity, integrity and harmony, he said.
He further said that they could not organise the festival last year due to the pandemic, he further said, while mentioning that it their great pleasure to witness the attendance of Ningol Chakouba festival by people hailing from different ethnic backgrounds. Their presence helps in upholding and strengthening the mutual co-existence of various communities in the state, he said.
Moirangcha also appreciated the state government for organising the Ningol Chakouba festival where women from all communities happily attended. “The initiative of the state government to conduct Ningol Chakouba festival will help in fulfilling their aim to promote unity and integrity of the state,” he said.
The occasion was also attended by leaders of various organisations. The women invitees also gave their blessings to the organisers as a part of the celebration.
Meanwhile, a special Ningol Chakouba for women from hill region who got married to Meetei families in the valley was held at the residence of Phumlou Ward No I pradhan Meisnam Manichand in Imphal West on Saturday.
Speaking on the occasion, Manichand said that the feast was organised to strengthen the emotional ties between the hills and the valley.
One Ph Atim Kasum of Ukhrul Kachai village expressed gratitude that she could reunite with other women of the hills as they were also invited at the event.
Lamenting that she could not attend Ningol Chakouba in the previous years as the festival is not celebrated in her parental residence, she thanked Manichandra and his family for inviting her to such a special occasion.
As a traditional custom, gifts were also exchanged between Manichand’s family and the women who were invited to the Ningol Chakouba festival.
