| Manipur
is a land of festivities, merriments and mirths all the year
round. A year in Manipur Presents a cycle of festivals. Hardly a
month passes without a festival or two. To the manipuris,
festivals are the symbols of their cultural, social and
religious aspirations which, besides removing the monotony of
life by providing physical diversions, mental recreation and
emotional outlet, help them lead a better and fuller life. |
A Taste
with Manipuri festivals
Ningol Chakouba - the social festival of
Manipuries
Yaoshang - The premier festival of
Manipur Hindus
Ramjan ID - The festival of Manipuri
Muslims
KUT - the festival of Kuki-Chin-Mizo
Gang-Ngai - Festival of Kabui Nagas
Chumpha -festival of Tangkhul Nagas
Christmas - The festival of Christians
Cheiraoba - The Manipur NewYear
Kang - The RathaJatra of Manipur
Heikru Hitongba
|
| Ningol
Chakouba - the social festival of Manipuries
It is a remarkable social festival of the Meiteis. Married women of the
family who were married to distant places come to the parental house along
with her children and enjoy sumptuous feast. It is a form of family
rejoinder to revive familial affection. The festival is also observed by
the Pangals (Manipuri Muslims) to a certain extent now-a-days. It is
observed on the second day of the new moon in the Manipuri month of
Hiyangei(November).
 |
| Yaoshang
- The premier festival of Manipur Hindus
Celebrated for five days commencing from the full moon day of Phalguna
(february/March), Yaoshang is the premier festival of Manipur. The Thabal
Chongba - a kind of Manipuri folk dance, where boys and girls hold hands
and sing and dance in a circle, is particularly associated with this
festival. Boys and girls and old women collect donations from house to
house and the money so collected is spent in a number of parties and
feast. Indeed, Yaosang to Manipur is what Durga Puja is to Bengal, Diwali
in north India and Bihu to Assam. |
| Ramjan
ID - The premier festival of Manipur Muslims
Ramjan Id is the most popular festival of the Manipuri Muslims (Meitei
Pangal) in Manipur and is observed in the usual spirits
of joy and festivities as in other Muslim world Ramjan is the
ninth month of Hijri year since the time of prophet Mohammed and
during this month the Muslims practice seld denial ny avoiding
any food, drink and smoke from pre-dawn till sunset. During this
month is spent on prayers. After the month on the second day of
shawwal, when the new moon is visible they break fast and this
fast breaking day is called Id-Ul-Fitre. On this day, they go to
the mosques to offer prayers and take delicious dishes, exchange
greetings and call on the friends and relatives. |
| KUT - the
festival of Kuki-Chin-Mizo
It is an autumn festival of the different tribes of
Kuki-Chin-Mizo groups of Manipur. The festival has been
variously described at different places amongst different tribes
as Chavang-Kut or Khodou etc. It is a happy occasion for the
villagers whose food stock is boundiful after a year of hard
labour. The festival is a thanks giving featsts with songs and
dances in merriment and joviality for all, in honour of the
giver of an abundant harvest, it is observed on the 1st of
November every year. |
| Gang-Ngai
- Festival of Kabui Nagas
Celebrated for five days in the month of Wakching (December/Janaury)
GANG-NGAI is an important festival of the Kabui Nagas. The
festival opens with the omen taking ceremony on the first day
and the rest of the days are associated with common feast,
dances of old men and women and of boys and girls, presentation
of farewell gifts etc. For 1997, it starts from Janaury 21. |
| Chumpha
-festival of Tangkhul Nagas
Celebrated for seven days in the month of December, the
Chumpha festival is a great festival of the Tanghul Nagas. The
festival is held after harvest. The last three days are devoted
to social gatherings and rejoicing. Unlike other festivals women
play a special role in the festival. The concluding part of the
festival ends with a provession within the village. |
| Christmas
- The festival of Christians
The Christmas is the greatest festival of all the Christains
of Manipur, observed for two days on December 24 and 25.
Prayers, reading of Gospels, eating, singing of hymns, lectures
on Christ, sports etc., form the major part of the festival. In
some villages where the inhabitants are well-off, the
celebration continues till Janaury 1 on which the New Years day
is also observed. |
| Cheiraoba
- The Manipur NewYear
During the festival, people clean and decorate their houses
and prepare special festive dishes which are first offered to
various deities. Celebrated during the month of April, a part of
the ritual entails villagers climbing the nearest hill tops in
belief that it will enable them to rise to greater heights in
their worldly life. The Pangals (Manipuri Muslims) also observe
it. |
| Kang -
The RathaJatra of Manipur
One of the greatest festivals of the Hindus of Manipur, the
festival is celebrated for ten days(July). Lord Jagannath leaves
his temple in a car known as 'Kang' in Manipur pulled by
pilgrims who vie with one another for this honour. |
| Heikru
Hitongba
Celebrated in the month of September, a festival of joy, with
little religious significance along a 16 metre wide boat. Long
narrow boats are used to accommodate a large number of rowers.
Idol of Shri Bishnu is installed before the commencement of the
race. |
