IMPHAL, January 3: The Gaan-Ngai Celebration Committee Manipur also celebrated Gaan-Ngai at Langthabal Chingthak, Lubanglwang, Imphal West today.
In the celebration MLA Langthabal Karan Shyam attended as chief guest, Finance Officer (CAF and PD) Angang Meiringmei as president and Hiyangthang Zilla Parishad Member Soibam Subhaschandra and Pradhan, Hiyangthan Gram Panchayat Sh Silasana are the guests of honor.
In his speech to the gathering Karam Shyam expressed regrets at the sparse attendance, though this was the state level celebration of this important festival. He expressed concern that this may be an indication that the state is not paying too much attention to its history, tradition and ancient cultures.
He further said that it is the time now to examine how other countries and state are preserving their tradition to contrast with how we are neglecting our. He urged all to be proud of preserving the state`™s diverse languages, cultures and traditions.
He also cautioned that the new generation should know that adaptation of new religions should not be at the cost of neglecting their old religion and tradition. Such an approach will only create rifts in the societies.
Shyam also observed that the 21st Century world has made great advances, but it is unfortunate religious fundamentalism has been its scourge.
He also said that unthinking and insensitive people are destroying the gift of nature and its beauty and thereby causing global warming. They however do not realise that by their tendency to destroy nature wantonly they are inviting calamities which will put all of humanity in misery and peril.
He further said it is true that culture and tradition brings love, peace and harmony between communities, and indeed betweens states and countries as well. This being the case, we all should give more attention to them, he emphasised.
Also addressing the Gaan-Ngai gathering, member organizing committee Kambui Gangmei said that Gaan-Ngai is the biggest festival of the Zeliangrong peoples residing in the three North East States that is Manipur, Assam and Nagaland.
She also said that Gaan-Ngai festival is celebrated for five days with cultural gusto and religious fervour. It is a post harvest festival, expressing the joy at the bounty of nature and hard work.
Kambui said that at this time the granaries are full, the landscape is dry and that whole village is free from all hard agricultural works which people in turn celebration. The festivity is also about worshipping God and honouring the ancestors in their heavenly abode.
Chief of Langthabal Chingthak, Bunglaona Kamei conducted the oblation of Holy Wine to Tingkao Ragwang as well as scared fire was extracted by the youths of the Langthabal Chingthak, and with this fire chief guest lit the festival torch.
Dancers from Chingkon village, Senapati District presented a captivating folk dance, TRC Phoichingtong village of Bishnupur District presents a devotional song and Abumei Kamei and Alice Gangmei of Chalungkhou, Churachanpur presented a folk song.
Meanwhile Sawongbung Sairem village and Hiyangthang village dance troops show cased the Zeliangrong culture with well appreciated dances.