IMPHAL, Nov 8 � Manipur on Monday celebrated the Ningol Chakkouba festival during which sisters and daughters are invited for special feasts by fathers and brothers.
The busy Khwairamband Keithel, the main market here, wore a desolate look during the day as most people joined their families for the festival. �Ningol� means married or unmarried daughters and �Chakkouba� means invitation for a lunch in the mother�s house. Thus the festival is a special day for the married daughters in Manipur.
On this day, a grand feast of various cuisines is prepared in honour of the daughter at her �mapan� (mother�s place). The main menu of most families included different forms of fish curry.
To meet the demand for fish, the State Fisheries department had been organising a fish fair on the eve of every Ningol Chakkouba festival.
On �Ningol Chakouba� married daughters visit their mother�s place wearing their finest and bring fruits and sweets for the family. The daughters have lunch with the family members. The daughters are also presented gifts by the parents and brothers.
Manipur Governor Gurbachan Jagat in a message said �Ningol Chakkouba rejuvenates family ties and strengthens the bonds of love and affection between brothers and sisters, mothers and daughters, and fathers and daughters, which ultimately help in promoting unity and integrity in the society.�
Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh greeting the people on the occasion said, �May this festival foster the true spirit of love, goodwill and compassion in our society�.
