Gaan Ngai festival begins in Manipur

Correspondent IMPHAL, January 13 [dropcap]C[/dropcap]elebration of Gaan Ngai, the biggest annual post festival of the Zeliangrong tribes of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland, began in Manipur too on Monday. The seven day festival heralds the closing of the old year and arrival of the New Year. Making of holy fire for purification of the entire community and colourful dance sequence by various dance groups representing the different Zeliangrong villages marked the formal inaugural function of the festival in Manipur on Monday. The state level Gaan Ngai Festival was celebrated with Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam as the chief guest of the inaugural function at Keikhu Kabui village under Imphal East district.Public Health Engineering minister Irengbam Hemochandra; Commerce and Industries minister Gobindas Konthouja; Parliamentary secretary (MOBC and Science and Technology) Md Amin Shah; and MLAs including TN Haokip, Janghemlung Panmei and S Bira were the guests of honour of the function. Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam said Gaan Ngai is not only the festival of the Zeliangrong tribe but for the entire community settling in the state. Gaikhangam, who also holds Home portfolio, promised to construct a workshed for all communities at Keikhu village. Sharing a similar sentiment, Public Health and Engineering department Minister Irengbam Hemochandra Singh has also assured that a water supply scheme worth around Rs 2 crores will also be constructed within a short span of time at Keikhu in the interest of the people living in and around the village. Industries minister Gobindas and the President of Zeliangrong Union Assam, Manipur and Nagaland also spoke on the occasion. A state level Gaan Ngai festival was also organized at Nambol Naorem Kabui village under Bishnupur district with Nambol MLA N Loken and the vice president of United Committee Manipur Chandramani Khumancha as the chief guest and functional president. The Gaan Ngai festival of the Zeliangrong community, which comprises of Zeme, Liangmai and Rongmei according to the traditions, originated at the ancient village of Makuilongdi as a revelation of God for the well being of mankind and it was originally Chaga-Ngai. The festival was celebrated across the Zeliangrong inhabited villages in Assam, Manipur and Nagaland which has a population of about 4,50,000 Zeliangrongs.