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.
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 - The 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.
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