Liangmai tribe in Delhi celebrate Chaga Festival

Newmai News Network
IMPHAL, Oct 28 : The Liangmai community in Delhi and NCR celebrated Chaga Ngee cum Liangmai Meet 2023 at Community Centre, PTS Malviya Nagar, Delhi  today jointly organized by the Liangmai Ruangdi Delhi and Liangmai Katinah Ruangdi Delhi.
The festival kicked off with various Liangmai cultural shows including chami malapbo (traditional fire making), cultural dances by youth and Sunday school children and  traditional attire, folk song competition and traditional cuisine.
In addition to traditional games, ‘Freshers’  who came to Delhi for different occupations were also acknowledged.
The occasion was graced by Awangbow Newmai, Minister of Water Resources, Relief & Disaster Management, Government of Manipur as the chief guest.
Talking at the occasion, Awangbow emphasized on the importance of language and how identity is lost when language is lost. He encouraged the community in Delhi to teach Lianglad and speak the language at home. He added that in whatever one does, one must be proud of who one is He also urged the youth to be “brave and ambitious”.
Also speaking on the occasion as guest of honour, Dr Alyson Abonmai, a social worker and an intending candidate for Outer Manipur 18 Lok Sabha, mentioned the reasons for celebrating the Chaga Ngee. He said that “identity consciousness” of smaller communities has been sharpened with the changing social dynamics of the world.
Dr Alyson then encouraged the community to celebrate the festival meaningfully by knowing the essence of the festival.
Liangmai Christian Fellowship elder, Simion Mantriakta Newmai  narrated the history of Chaga Ngee, while convenor Maj Moses Charenamai (Retd.) welcomed the ‘freshers’ and shared his thoughts about the importance of unity.
Various Liangmai artistes enthralled the gathering with songs, while Kizanliu Newmai presented a Liangmai folk song. Cultural dance troupes enthralled the crowd with their beautiful Liangmai cultural dances and songs. LCFD Sunday School also performed in the festival.
At the end of the event, in his vote of thanks speech, Dr Namridinbou Newmai, the co-convenor of the event, emphasised on the importance of unity.
He was thrilled to see the co-operation and support from the community to organise this event.
The event was attended by around 700 members.
Special guests of the programme included Lois Charenamai, Associate Prof Department of English, Tamenglong College, Manipur, Dr Moses Newmai, Assistant Professor, School of Agricultural Sciences, Raffles University, Rajasthan, Aping Lewis Chawang, AGM, IDBI Bank Ltd, Dr Kaimedintung Newmai and PG Anaesthesiology, AIIMS, New Delhi.