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Dr Najma Heptulla in traditional Zeliangrong attire participating in a curtain raiser event of Gaan Ngai festival at the Raj Bhavan, in Imphal on Wed. Jan. 16.[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Imphal, Jan. 16 (EMN): Governor Dr Najma Heptulla on Wednesday said that we must remember our cultural roots and practice our cultural tradition regardless of the achievements made in our life.
Governor Dr Heptulla was speaking at opening ceremony of the Curtain Raiser of the State Level Gaan-Ngai Festival at the Raj Bhavan in Imphal.
Expressing her happiness that the Gaan-Ngai festival is beginning from the Raj Bhavan, she hoped that the celebration will continue every year at the Raj Bhavan and wished the people for a good harvest, prosperity and development.
Recalling first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s statement made during his Manipur visit in 1952, she reiterated that the statement of Pandit Nehru that the cultural variety of Manipur has no match anywhere in the country.
Stating that the tribes and sub-tribes have their different festivals at different time of the year focusing mainly on the agricultural activities, she urged the people to continue their cultural tradition as it makes Manipur a unique State in the country.
This is for the first time in the history that the curtain raiser of the Gaan-Ngai, the greatest festival of the Zeliangrong community, was celebrated with the Governor under the aegis of the State Level Gaan-Ngai Celebration Committee, Manipur in collaboration with the Tingkao Ragwang Chapriak Phuam (TRCP) at the Raj Bhavan lawn.
The state level Gaan-Ngai festival will be celebrated at the state level at Chingmeirong in Imphal on Jan. 19. Gaan-Ngai literally means the festival of winter season (Gaan or Ganh means winter or dry season and Ngai means festival). This is a festival heralding the New Year.
Caption: Dr Najma Heptulla in traditional Zeliangrong attire participating in a curtain raiser event of Gaan Ngai festival at the Raj Bhavan, in Imphal on Wed. Jan. 16.
