The true essence of Ningol Chakkouba festival
Waikhom Marilyn *
Ningol Chakouba at Delhi on 7th Nov 2010 :: Pix - Nila Keisham
Manipur celebrates an immense number of festivals – both religious and non-religious. Due to the state's unique ethnic diversity, the state celebrates each and every festival of different communities residing in this state with much pomp and gaiety.
Ningol Chakkouba is one such festival celebrated by the Meiteis since time immemorial. Today, the festival is celebrated not only by the Meiteis but also by other communities living in Manipur. In short, every Manipuri celebrates it.
The literal meaning of 'Ningol Chakkouba' which is derives from 'Ningol' (here, married women), Chakkouba (call for feast), means inviting the married women at their parental homes for a joyous feasting together.
On this day, women of the household, who are married are invited by their parents and brothers and have a sumptuous meal together. This festival marks a family reunion.
The married women of the household come with their children to their parental house on this day. Small gifts are exchanged on this day. The women are presented with gifts as a token of love by their brothers and other male members of the family. The married women too take gifts from their homes to be given to their brothers and parents.
Unfortunately, the manner of celebration of this beautiful festival that speaks of the undying love and familial relationship between brothers and sisters has been changed over years due to the race in exchange of gifts.
Rich families present their daughters with rich items and this has transformed the Ningol Chakkouba festival into a brazen display of wealth. Even among the married women, there is a comparison of the gifts presented to them. This so called modern fashioned culture has eventually curbed the most awaited festival of its true essence.
Poor families are not able to give costly gifts and so they are looked down upon. Those women who have poor household conditions are ashamed of showing their gifts off to their friends or family members. Especially during this exchange of gifts, poor face a lot of financial problems.
The true essence of this most awaited festival especially by the women section of the society is now going to degrade. It's high time for us to get to our senses and cherish this festival with the old cultured way of celebrating it. As we knew that a coin has two faces, this modern way of celebrating our pure relation binding is making it impure.
Let's purify it and make it a long lasting festival.
And I wish the women section of Manipur a very happy NINGOL CHAKKOUBA 2013 as well as in the years to come.
* Waikhom Marilyn wrote this article for Hueiyen Lanpao (English Edition)
The Writer is a Class : X student at Tiny Tots'' Unique School and residing at Thangmeiband Yumnam Leikai
This article was posted on November 05, 2013.
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