Our Correspondent
Imphal, Oct. 27 (EMN): Ningol Chakkouba, one of the most popular festivals of Manipur was celebrated across the state on Thursday. The festival is a special day for married women in Manipur.
On this auspicious day, married women are invited to their paternal home for feast (Chakkouba), which is held together with other family members. And when the feast ends, brothers, uncles and fathers (and any male family member) give gifts to the married women.
The women folks dressed in their finest attire visit their parental homes with assorted goodies.
In return, they also receive gifts from their parents and brothers.
Ningol Chakkouba, is celebrated on the second day of the lunar month of Hiyanggei (October-November) to renew and strengthen familial bonds. ‘Ningol’ means daughter and ‘Chakkouba’ means invitation to the mother’s house for lunch.
On this day, a grand feast is hosted for the daughters at their ‘mapam’ (parental place). The loveliest part of this gift offering session is that the parents offer them blessings and the daughter receives them as the most inestimable things.
The main attraction of Ningol Chakkouba is the feast that consists of an amazing variety of traditional Manipuri cuisines.
Apart from the common Indian dishes, the menu includes Manipuri conventional dishes like Nga thongba (classic fish curry), Nga Ataoba (Fish fry), Kangsoi (a vegetable stew), Iromba (a delightful combination of boiled vegetables and fermented fish), and Singju (Manipuri salad bursting with vegetables), etc.
The busy Khwairamband Keithel, the main market in Imphal, and all roads leading to the state capital, wore a desolate look during the day as most people joined their families for the festival. However, in the evening, there was traffic congestion on the roads as the women returned home.
Manipur Governor La Ganesan, Chief Minister N Biren Singh, Cabinet Ministers and several political parties and organisations have conveyed their greeting to the people of Manipur on the occasion of Ningol Chakkouba.
Governor La Ganesan said that apart from rejuvenating family ties, the festival helps in promoting unity and integrity among the people too.
Greeting the people of Manipur, Chief Minister Biren Singh tweeted: “Greetings to everyone on this auspicious occasion of Ningol Chakouba. May this festival strengthen the bond shared by brothers & sisters and daughters & parents. This festival is one of the biggest festivals of Manipur.”