Imphal: Manipur celebrated Ningol Chakkouba on Wednesday with traditional enthusiasm and community feasts, highlighting the enduring bond between married women and their parental families.
Observed on the second day of the Meitei lunar month of Hiyangei, the festival saw married women, known as Ningols, dressed in traditional attire visiting their parental homes accompanied by their children. They carried fruits, vegetables and other traditional food items as part of the celebrations.
Families welcomed the women with elaborate feasts featuring a variety of dishes, particularly fish. Following the meals, brothers presented gifts to their sisters, who offered blessings for their prosperity and well-being.
Inter-community celebrations promote unity
Beyond family gatherings, the All Manipur Ethnical Socio-Cultural Organisation (AMESCO), in collaboration with the Indian Army, Assam Rifles and Manipur state forces, organised large-scale inter-community celebrations at Khonghampat, Kakching, Pallel, Kakching Khunou and Bishnupur.
The gatherings brought together security personnel, Naga women, members of different tribal communities and residents of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.
Participants shared meals and exchanged gifts, turning the festival into an occasion for strengthening social bonds and promoting unity among communities.
Governor and Chief Minister extend greetings
Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla said Ningol Chakkouba reflects the state’s rich cultural heritage and spirit of social harmony.
He observed that family values and mutual affection continue to bring different communities together through love and peaceful coexistence.
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh also conveyed his greetings through social media. He described the festival as a cherished celebration of enduring family relationships and expressed hope that the occasion would strengthen unity, peaceful coexistence and prosperity across the state.
A festival rooted in Manipur’s cultural heritage
Ningol Chakkouba, which literally translates to a grand feast for married women, is among Manipur’s largest and most significant cultural festivals.
The festival is believed to have originated during the reign of King Chandrakirti, who ruled between 1850 and 1886.
Over the years, it has remained an important occasion for married women to reconnect with their parental families, while reinforcing relationships between brothers and sisters.
Beyond its traditional family significance, the festival has also become an occasion for promoting inter-community interaction and social harmony across Manipur.