Greetings on the Occasion of Ningol Chakouba

Dr Omila Thounaojam *

Ningol Chak-Kouba celebration in a household at Imphal on October 25 2014 :: Pix - Deepak Oinam

I'm writing this article from a subject location. It feels special, I confess. Seeing home ground, the lovely breeze that hits my individual (poetically put across) makes it all the more auspicious. May be some may fail to feel it since to them all's equally the same with a long drawn ordinary look.

May be I'm exalted by this thought of catching up with family, friends and the locales that unfailingly excites me emotionally. Time flies and yet another special day arrives. Women all over the state of Manipur are reliving this season of festivity.

Indeed it should also for this festival has in its content, messages that are rich in its own right. Women in the state now, including myself are happy and thrilled. The day called "Ningol Chakouba" ensures that a family remembers a branch of its own however far or new the branch may have been situated.

In short it celebrates a woman who got married and is now a member of another clan. In this sense, this day is monumental and should be considered all the more special. It is owing to the fact that unlike a mother's day or a father's day (or any such day), this landmark event becomes a part of our tradition. Here I'm talking about the aspect of our tradition that has never failed an individual in the scenario of "bonding" in the real sense of the term.

In a world that is slowly turning away from customs and the real worth of a part of a tradition, a festive occasion like "Ningol Chakouba" ensures the survival of meaningful trends in our midst. This festival has as its core principle, the humblest attempt to balance out the importance of a healthy bonding between male and female individuals of a society.

Irrespective of the increasing number of new social elements that have almost succeeded in infiltrating and corrupting various beautiful parts of our custom and tradition, this festival has guarded itself most successfully in thriving against all odds on its way. The feeling of family bond, love and respect amongst the members of a family is upheld to its highest level.

Such a soul that exists in the body of this occasion makes this festive day a grandeur and celebratory one. Women married and even unmarried hail it sacred and they enjoy indulging themselves in shopping activities, especially in purchasing a beautiful combination of seasonal fruits, flowers and sweets to offer prayer to their household God on the day of their visit for "Ningol Chakouba."

Lovely as it sounds a "ningol" is warmly invited and welcomed warmly on this auspicious day for a lunch with her family. After the luncheon, the parents along with the male members of her family (like brothers and uncles) present her with gifts of their choice. As the saying goes, gifts are an extension of feelings, indeed a day like the "Ningol Chakouba" materializes it.

Only request that must be frankly put across as a part of this write is this that, a "ningol" must never measure the gratitude and love of her maternal side towards her based upon the material worth of the gift she receives on such a holy day.

Along with this, is the notion of degrading the beautiful sentiment attached to such a day by demanding and emotionally charging the parents on the ground of such a day. By this I mean to say that a woman must never take advantage out of such an occasion by equating it with a brand value.

Let's not devaluate the serenity and pristine inside of this day and instead make it all the more grand by adding the fuel of true love and respect in its structure.

Let this day of "Ningol Chakouba" be more meaningful along with the passage of time by putting our best affords in purifying it.

Let the dirt of corrupted selfish habits stay far away from such an eventful journey. We as women must take active part in doing so.

Honestly I feel that we, the women folk of this state worship such a day with great pride, so let's continue doing it for the sake of ourselves and the beauty underlying such an occasion.

Truly endeavoring the best and believing in the strength that such a day blesses our state with, in forwarding and delivering the message of love and prospering, I humbly wish all the Ningols

"A Happy Ningol Chakouba".

May this day brings forth lots more days that are colored with positive thoughts and loving experiences in the beautiful journey of life.