Gaan-ngai fest kicks off amid gaiety
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 09 2009: Gaan-Ngai, the grandest postharvest festival of the Kabui community commenced at various places within and outside the State from today.

Kabuis of Manipur as well as the Rongmei group of the Zeliangrong tribe scattered in Assam and Nagaland States celebrate Gaan-Ngai to thank the Almighty for the bountiful blessing of food crops.

The State level celebration held at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen, Palace Compound began with the traditional ritual of offering indigenous brew to the 'Tingkao Ragwang' deity, chanting in praise of the almighty, fire jumping, extraction of fire in the traditional manner as well as presentation of cultural items including dance and song.

Cultural item underway to mark the start of the five day long Chakan Gan-Ngai festival

The festival will be celebrated for five days.

The Palace Compound celebration was formally inaugurated by the Health and Family Welfare Minister Ph Parijat and Lok Sabha MP Mani Charenamei as the chief guest and president respectively with the former also lighting the celebration lamp from traditionally extracted fire.

Dwelling on varied aspects and ethos of the Gaan-Ngai festival, the chief guest said partaking in the celebration would pave the way for shedding parochial attitude amongst the people and shield the society from destructive forces as such an event provides common platform for all community to share love and warmth.

In his address, Mani Charenamei expressed satisfaction that through celebration of the indigenous festival, the Rongmei people had been able to sustain age-old belief and preserve tradition and culture of the community.

The Outer Manipur Parliamentary representative also stressed on sustaining the indigenous culture and tradition as many indigenous tribal groups after embracing Christianity are at the cross-road, deviating from their original culture and traditional practices.

Reiterating that celebration of indigenous festival has become inevitable in keeping alive the age-old tradition, Charenamei further hoped that the festival would usher in and promote peace and harmony in the society.

Among others the post-harvest festival of the Kabuis was also celebrated at the Zeliangrong Building, Paona Bazar in all its traditional aspect under the joint aegis of the Zeliangrong Union and Zeliangrong Youth Front.

Attended by representatives of several civil society organisations, former MP Prof Meijinlung Kamson as special invitee of the occasion elaborated on the religious and traditional essence of the Gaan-Ngai festival.

At Thangmeiband Namthanlong village, Gaan-ngai festivities were kicked off with the participation of representatives from different communities of the State.

The programme was organised by All Manipur Ethnical Socio Cultural Organisation (AMESCO) with an aim for promotion of co-existence of all communities in the State.

As a part of the festival, representatives from different communities of the State under the banner of AMESCO brought athenpot (varieties of gifts comprising eatables, cloth and religious items) from Khoyathong to Namthanlong village.

Residents of the village headed by elders warmly welcomed the guests at the village gate and ushered them inside the village with the shouting of hoi.

To strengthen the bond of brotherhood, members of Kabui community exchanged gifts with the members of different communities.

Irabot Foundation president Th Iboyaima, AMESCO and AMUCO advisor Dr Dhanabir Laishram, Poirei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba Manipur president L Memchoubi, AMESCO president LS Guite and Namthanlong village elders L Paosuang and KG Aphunna were the members of the dais in the programme.

In his keynote address, AMESCO general secretary S Nando said that the organisation has been taking part in Gaan-ngai festival in different Kabui villages since 1994 .

He also said the festival is one of the six selected festivals of the State celebrated by AMESCO with the communities concerned.

The festivals are celebrated by AMESCO in order to follow the advice of the elders for a peaceful co-existence, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Dhanabir Laishram expressed concern over the chaos prevailing in the State.

He said bigger communities must not undermine the smaller ones so as to bring communal harmony in the State.

AMESCO president LS Guite emphasised on the need to maintain mutual respect amongst the communities.

Later the gathering had a grant feast together.

Meanwhile, Kshetrigao A/C MLA Thangjam Nandakishore presented a 500litre water tank to the villagers of Keikhu Kabui village on the occasion of Gaan-ngai festival.

The tank was handed over to the village chief.

The MLA also distributed prizes in connection with the sports festival organised by Keikhu Chabon Cultural Organisation.