Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, October 21 2009:
Union minister of state for rural development and Agatha Sangma attended the Ningol Chakkouba, one of the grandest festivals of Manipur, celebrated Tuesday throughout the state with fanfare.
Leaving behind all odds of life and chaos, issues etc.
ahead, married women visited their parents' houses for a grand feast and gifts were bestowed on them and their children by their parents and brothers.
The Nationalists Congress Party (NCP) hosted a grand feast which the Union minister for state for rural development, Agatha Sangma was invited to mark the festival.
Miss Sangma arrived here in Imphal yesterday on her two day visit in the state.
She left after attending the festival this afternoon.
Even though the traditional way of married women visiting to their parents' house marked the festival, this year no civil society or NGO hosted grand feast to mark the celebration of the festival.
It the previous years, civil societies, NGOs and other celebrated the festival by inviting destitute women and women of different communities from both hills and valley areas.
They had already announced of not hosting the grand feast sharing to shock and grieve suffered by the family of young pregnant housewife, Thokchom Rabina who died in July 23 broad daylight shooting incident at Khwairamband Bazar and solidarity to the people agitations demanding resignation of the chief minister O Ibobi Singh.
The festival is no more concentrated only to the Meetei communities but many communities including tribals particularly residing in the valley areas also celebrated the festival by inviting their sister for a special feast on this day.
Ningol Chakouba is one among the most important traditional/indigenous festival of Meeteis community.
It is assumed as the biggest festival for the ningols (sisters).
It is celebrated only once in a year in the favourable month of "Hiyangei" neeni panba of Meetei lunar calendar (usually falls in October or November) as written in articles of scholars of the state.
Such festival is performed from time immemorial.
It is celebrated since the days of Almighty God.
It has its own historical background.
This festival depicts the close affectionate relationship between the Pibas (male brothers) and Ningols (sisters).
Such kind of similar ceremony/festival is also celebrated in other part of India; however their style, manner may differ from each other.
It is believed that Chakkouba (inviting for feast) by the brothers to their respective sisters or so called "Bhatr Ditriya" was introduced by Maharaja Chandra Kriti Singh.