Strife compels many to forgo Ningol Chakkouba

Imphal: Many individuals and local organisations have decided not to celebrate Ningol Chakkouba, the biggest festival of Manipuri women which falls on November 15, owing to the unending ethnic violence gripping the state.A battery of Meitei civil bodies of the state have also appealed to people to forgo the festivities in view of the unstable situation.During Chakkouba, Meitei women, especially the married ones, dressed in their best traditional attire, move to their natal homes and enjoy an array of mouth-watering fish dishes with their siblings and parents. With blessings and simple gifts given by their parents and brothers, the women return home in high spirits. A slew of entertainment programmes such as music concerts, Shumang Leela (courtyard theatre), etc. are also lined up during the festival.Over the last few decades, the festival has seen the encompassing of other communities, bearing testimony to the love, unity and integration in the state.“Had there been no conflict in our state, we would have planned everything by now for the ensuing Ningol Chakkouba such as the fish menu for the family feast and the simple gifts to be given to our married daughters and beloved Ningols (women),” said Saikhom Ongbi Tombi Devi, a resident of Thangmeiband area in Imphal West district.So far 175 people have died, 1108 have been injured, around 50,000 rendered homeless and thousands of houses and other properties destroyed since the clashes first broke out in the state on May 3.“When the bereaved families are weeping for their near and dear ones killed, injured and maimed in the unceasing conflict and houses and properties of people have been destroyed by miscreants, there will be no merriment in Ningol Chakkouba. Hence we have decided to give celebrations a miss this time,” she added.Echoing similar sentiments, Premjit Singh from Imphal East said he is not in the mood to celebrate Chakkouba and has decided not to invite his married sisters on the occasion.Keeping in mind the current situation, the World Meitei Council (WMC), one of the apex civil bodies of the Meitei community, has also urged all members of the community living across the globe to show solidarity with the victims of the conflict and not celebrate Ningol Chakkouba this year.A WMC statement said ever since the Chahi Taret Khuntakpa, the Burmese invasion of Manipur from 1819 to 1826 (seven years of devastation), the Meiteis have not experienced such widespread destruction and devastation as in the current strife.Following an appeal made by a local civil body of Kakching Khunou in Kakching district against celebrating Ningol Chakkouba and other festivals in the area, the locals have resolved not to celebrate the festival.A Meira Paibi Lup (women vigilante group) leader of Wangoo area in Bishnupur district bordering Churachandpur also appealed to all to refrain from celebrating Ningol Chakkouba in the state until normalcy is restored and the displaced people lead a settled life in their respective native places.