Ningol Chakouba 2019

Chennai Manipuri Forum (CMF), Chennai, organized “Ningol Chakkouba” on Saturday, the 26th October 2019 at the premises of the Odisha Bhawan, Pallikaranai, Chennai. Ningol: daughter, chak-kouba: invitation to feast, is one of the most important festivals of the Manipuris.  The festival is a celebration of the bonds between married daughters and her parents and family. Traditionally a family affair, CMF’s Ningol Chakkouba was unique, for it sought to celebrate the spirit of unity and harmony among the brothers and sisters among all the Manipuri families staying in and around Chennai, Tamil Nadu. 

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The event was attended by about 120 CMF members. All the ladies or ningols arrived to grace the event in traditional Manipuri attire. Colorful muga phanek and phi and the mesmerizing hues of mapan-naiba phanek and rani phi worn by the ladies competed to bedazzle the attendees. As they walked in with their athenpots; gifts, they were warmly welcomed by the brothers of the community. Brother John, brother Thomas and sister Anna Jarvis from the Poumai community of Manipur also attended the function as special guests.

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Ms. Vama and her team, opened the event with a beautiful rendition of a super hit patriotic Manipuri song, “Manipur Manipur”. Mrs. Vijenta Thangjam and Ms. Anju enthralled the audience with graceful presentations of Manipuri thougal jagoi and thoibi jagoi. The highlight of the event was the feast served for lunch. A core group of volunteers worked for several days to cook a dozen variety of traditional Meitei delicacies.

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After the sumptuous lunch, entertainment activities such as karaoke and family portraits were organised. All the sisters, mothers and children were presented gifts by elder members of the CMF, as a token to mark the special occasion. In the evening, all present in the gathering got on their feet and participated in a vigorous round of traditional Meitei circle dance, called the thabal chongba or moonlit dance. 

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As a signature ending of the CMF, all the members came up on the stage and took a family picture to mark the end of the Extravaganza. It was a fun-filled event and everyone rejoiced the gathering with great enthusiasm and felt just like “Home” in this coastal city of southern India.