Newmai News Network
Imphal: Liangmai people across Manipur state and elsewhere celebrated Chaga Ngee today. It is one of the most important festivals of the Liangmai tribe. Chaga Ngee is a festival of “sanctification, purification, blessing, thanksgiving.”
Features of the festival include cultural dances, cultural songs and Liangmai traditional sports followed by a grand feast. The festival is one of the most anticipated for the Liangmai people.
Liangmai people from all walks of life engage in the day-long jamboree of cultural extravaganza on the day. Liangmai people gather in bonhomie to rejoice in promoting their roots. On the Chaga Ngee day every year, Liangmai people also get together in various festival venues in the spirit of brotherhood.
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Cut to this modern time, Chaga Ngee has been laced with festoons and fanfare with the showcasing of tradition and culture within the modern context in most cases. Taking the festival from this angle, it is a connection between the gaping hole of ancestral roots and modernity.
On this very day every year, the Liangmai people make every effort to reunite with their roots despite the mad drive along the tide of the fast moving world.
Today at Tamei headquarters in Tamenglong district, Liangmai people from the area celebrated the festival where many cultural items were displayed. The Makui village also celebrated the festival at the main ground of the village. The event was hosted by Makui Village Authority and Kawikin Group with different activities including cultural dances and traditional sports.
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In Imphal, Liangmai people celebrated the festival in Dewlahland, Imphal. The function was organized by Liangmai Senior Citizen Form, Imphal. On the occasion, people came to celebrate the festival in Liangmai attire.
Kindling of fire or chami malapbo was performed by Liangmai youth followed by lighting of the festival torch. Essay writing competition on the topic ‘Chaga Ngee and its significance’ was also one of the items of the festival. At the end of the programme, the participants shared the Chaga taduam (Chaga Ngee food).
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