Mail News Service
Imphal, Nov 14 : Ningol Chakkouba festival will be celebrated tomorrow . The market area was filled with people buying goods. There was even a clash between the shop keepers and street vendors. Some thought there was a bomb and people started fleeing the market area. Normalcy was restored after some time. Handloom and fish fairs were also organised by the state government and other organisations.
Governor Gurbhachan Jagat said in a message, “Ningol Chakkouba is a grand festival of Manipur when married women and their children are invited for feast by their parents and brothers. Though the festival is originally observed by the Meitei community, the celebration now extends to other communities and tribes in Manipur thereby reinforcing unity amidst diversity in the State. The festival promotes the feelings of peaceful coexistence and harmonious social life by reaffirming our faith in the traditional values of love and protection.
Let us imbibe the ideals associated with this festival to foster the spirit of amity, harmony and goodwill in our life. O Ibobi, CM said in a message, “ It gives me great pleasure to greet the people of Manipur on the joyous and happy occasion of Ningol Chakkouba, 2012 and offer my good wishes to each and every one of them.
Ningol Chakkouba, a unique festival of the Meitei community, observed oh the second day of the new moon of Hiyangei rejuvenates family relations and bolsters the bond of love and affection between married sisters and brothers. I am glad that the ethos of this festival has been appreciated by the other communities and this festival is recently been celebrated with other communities. This brings about understanding among the various communities and helps in preserving and promoting unity and integrity in the society.”
Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh,AVSM,SM, Director General Assam Rifles, and All Ranks of Assam Rifles extend a very warm greetings and sincere goodwill to the people of Manipur on the auspicious occasion of “Ningol Chakkouba”. The DGAR conveyed that, ‘May this festival herald an era of peace, progress and prosperity in the region and enhance the spirit of unity, cohesiveness and brotherhood amongst warm and friendly people of the State.
Major General UK Gurung, YSM, IGAR(S) and All Ranks of Assam Rifles conveyed warm greetings and best wishes to the people of Manipur on the auspicious occasion of Ningol Chakkouba. In his message to the people of State, IGAR(South) observed that, the festival of Ningol Chakkouba reinforces the fraternal and protective bond that exist between brothers and sisters, and parents and daughters since time immemorial. The General Officer noted that, the festival was originally observed by Meitei community, the celebration has now encompassed other communities in Manipur, thereby promoting unity and integration in the State. May the goodwill and harmony bring all of us together irrespective of caste, creed and faith.
Maj Gen KK Sinha, SM, GOC and all ranks of Red Shield Division extend warm greetings to the people of Manipur on the auspicious and joyous occasion of “Ningol Chakouba” festival. Gen Sinha hopes that the festival of love between brothers and siblings will send out a message of brotherhood, happiness and peace among all communities of the State.
RPF today greeted all on the eve of Ningol Chakkouba.
It remembered the invitation of Poreiton by Laisna wife of Nongda Lairen Pakhangba for a feast on the second of Manipuri month Hiyangei in the first century AD from when the festival was celebrated by the masses.
The tradition of inviting brothers by married women for feast by their brothers changed during the reign of Chandrakirti . It became problematic for brothers to choose whose house to visit .
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/ningol-chakkouba-festival-today/
