Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, January 08 2009:
PRESIDENT OF Manipur People's Party, Dr Chandramani Leishangthem has greeted the people of Manipur, particularly the Zeliangrong community on the occasion of Gaan Ngai festival.
Gaan Ngai, a festival of the Zeliangrong people who grew up together on the soil of Mother Manipur, is one of the greatest traditional festivals of Manipur, Dr Chandramani affirmed.
With the celebration of the festival with gaiety, let's build a peaceful Manipuri society with renewed thoughts of communal harmony and coexistence.
May the creator of the world Tingkai Ragwang bless all of us, Dr Chandramani said in his message.
The Manipuri Students' Federation, the Rashtriya Janata Dal, Manipur, the Bharatiya Janata Party, Manipur Pradesh, Janata Dal (United) etc have also conveyed their heartiest greetings and best wishes to the Zeliangrong community on the occasion of Gaan Ngai festival.
The Zeliangrong Union (ZU) and the Zeliangrong Youth Front (ZYF) of Assam , Manipur and Nagaland have conveyed its greetings to all the people of the North East particularly to the Zeliangrong community.
The two Zeliangrong bodies have also appealed to the general public not to call bandh, strike or blockade during the time of the week long festival.
Gaan-Ngai is one of the most important and biggest festivals of the Zeliangrong community and is celebrated with pomp and gaiety for a week long, stated a press statement by Romeo Palmei, general secretary of ZYF (AMN) and K Poushinlung, secretary of ZU while informing further that the festival signifies the power of man and the knowledge to rule the earth.
The discovery of fire by early man made him the supreme being above all other creatures, stated the statement of ZU and ZYF adding that the traditional practice of "Mai-Rap-Mei" (fire making) on the first day of the Gaan-Ngai exemplified the same.
Asserting that the festival was characterised by worship, offerings, rituals mingled with traditional songs, dances, games, feastings and entertainment, the ZU and the ZYF (AMN) while wishing the people prayed that the festival ushered in peace, joy and reconciliation among the people of the state irrespective of caste, creed and colour.
In this regard, the ZU and ZYF (AMN) also appealed to the general people of the state not to call any bandh or strike during the festive days.