Imphal, November 04: The traditional festival of Ningol Chakkouba was celebrated with great fanfare yesterday by inviting the sisters for a grand feasting by their brothers, thereby reaffirming close and inalienable bonding between the sisters and the brothers, even as various social organisations hosted community feasting to spread the message of love and unity among the people on the occasion.

At Waikhong Bazar in Thoubal district, Aihang Village Authority, Aihang Youth Club, Thoubal District United Women�s Development Organisation (TDUWDO) and United People�s Administrative Council jointly organised the Chingmi Tammi Ningol Chakkouba�.

All Manipur Working Journalists� Union president Bijoy Kakchingtabam, Aihang village chief M Tonkhothang Haokip and TDUWDO president Kangjam (O) Thasana Devi graced the occasion as chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.

Around 1000 �sisters� coming from 22 hill villages and other parts of Thoubal district took part in the celebration.

The organising committee presented gifts as token of love from the brothers to their sisters.

In his address as chief guest of the function, Bijoy Kakchingtabam said respect and unity among the different ethnic groups living in Manipur is the need of the hour.

There is no future in a society which is not founded on unity and integrity, he said.

In his presidential address, Tongkhothang Haokip said that hill and the valley people are brothers and sisters and the existing bond is indispensable.

All Manipur Ethnical Socio-Cultural Organisation (AMESCO) in association with various local clubs and organisations had also celebrated Ningol Chakkouba by arranging grand feasting at five different places namely Moreh, Jiribam, Lembakhul Tangkhul, Pechu Lampak near Manipur University Gate, Khunthokhanbi Sanglen located within DM College campus.

AMESCO and Hill Tribal Council (HTC), Moreh jointly hosted the Ningol Chakkouba function held at Dr Colvin High School, Moreh and was attended by around 650 womenfolk belonging to various ethnic groups.

SDC Moreh, PH Ibohal and HTC vice president Pu H Mate were chief guest and functional president at the occasion.

AMOVA advisor Leirangton, chairperson of Heingang Kendra Meira Paibi Lup Bormani, Ex-Minister OM Haokip, Moreh College principal L Vaiphei and MCM ex-president Thoungamba Meetei were among those who spoke at the occasion.

At Kondong Lairembi ground, National Identity Protection Committee and Meetei Council, Moreh had also celebrated Ningol Chakkouba along women folks belonging to various communities at Kondong lairembi ground yesterday.

MHRC member Ng Nongyai was the chief guest MCM president L Imobi was the president and NIPCO president Dr Ch Rajketon, president of Kha-Nongpok Apunba Nupi Lup, Moreh Keina and representatives of Mizo, Muslims Nepali and Bihari communities were guest of honours of the function.

Manipur Peace and Integrity (MAPI) Council in collaboration with All Andro Youth Club Association and All Andro Meira Paibi Association celebrated the festival under the banner of Chingmi-Tammi Ningol Chakkouba by arranging a grand feasting at Andro Kharam Leikai Community Hall yesterday.

Ex-member of Sadar Hill District Council Tuneithang Kom, MAPI Council president Th Manihar and ex-president of All Andro Meira Paibi Ngamasakhi graced the occasion as chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.

A large number of womenfolk took part the festivities making it a grand success.

Keeping with the tradition, the womenfolk brought Athenpots and after partaking the feast arranged especially for them by their brothers, gifts were presented to them.

All those who spoke at the occasion shared joys and sorrows of life.

United People�s Front (UPF) also joined the Ningol Chakkouba festival by organising a community feasting of the hill and valley people at Singjamei Leishangthem leikai Indoor Stadium.

Manipur University Students� Union (MUSU) cele- brated Ningol Chakkouba as Ningolshingee Numit and arrangement a grand feasting at Students� Home of the University yesterday.

Co-ordination Committee on Ningol Chakkouba, Adim Jati Complex Chingmeirong organised Ningol Chakkouba feasting at ST/SC Girls� Hostel complex yesterday.

Under the joint auspices of National identity Protection Committee and local organisations of respective locations all-community Ningol Chakkouba festival was celebrated at the Jubilee Hall of Presidency College (Motbung), Khumujamba Meetei Leikai Mandop (Churachandpur) and at Moreh town.

Participated by a large number of people belonging to different community, speakers at the celebrations stressed on avoiding mention of the word Chingmee-Tammee with exchange of gifts and desire for initiatives by non-Meetei groups in organisation similar programme to strengthen age-old the other main features of various functions, a NIPCO release said.

Comment