Mail News Service
\nImphal, Jan 24: Governor, Gurbachan Jagat greeted the people of Manipur, especially our Zeliangrong brethren on the happy and auspicious occasion of Gaan Ngai, 2013.
\nGaan Ngai which literally means Festival of Winter Season is a festival of paying homage to the souls who departed the previous year. It symbolizes the end of a year besides heralding a new one. Gaan Ngai which Was a ritualistic festival is now becoming a cultural event of the Zeliangrong community, which is now being joined in by all communities leading to strengthening the friendship and bond between the various communities. The festival which is an occasion of worship, joy and merriment, also provides an opportunity to come together and work together for the shared goal of peace and harmony. We should resolve to follow the spiritual and moral values of the Festival to make it meaningful.
\nChief Minister , O Ibobi said in a message, \u201cit gives me great pleasure in greeting the people of Manipur particularly our Zeliangrong brethren on the auspicious and joyous occasion of Gaan-Ngai.
\nWhile celebrating a festival, we have to follow the spiritual and moral precepts that it conveys and to create conditions in our social demeanour which will preserve and proliferate this gift. A festival has to be celebrated in its true spirit. In Manipur there are peoples belonging to various ethnic groups and peaceful co-existence is a glorious tradition of the Manipuri society. In enjoying a festival, the edifice of oneness gets strengthened and preservation of this bond of oneness is what the Manipuri society calls for to-day so that the glorious tradition of Manipur peaceful co-existence can be continued.
\nOn the auspicious occasion of \u201cCHAKAN GAAN-NGAI\u201d, the greatest living festival of the Zeliangrong people of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland, which begin on January, 25, the Zeliangrong Youth Front (Assam, Manipur & Nagaland) convey its heartiest greeting to all communities in the state and particularly the Zeliangrong people. It is the festival (Ngai) of Gaan (Dry or Winter Season) and also known as the Chakan Gaan-Ngai. It is a kind of mixed festival for living and dead.
\nThe whole festival is characterized by making of traditional sacred fire, Ho-hoing (invocation), worship, offering, rituals mingled with traditional song, dance, games, feastings and entertainment.<\/p>\n\n