On 3rd November 2024, on the second day of the lunar month of Hiyangei, we celebrated a festival for women in Manipur known as Ningol(woman), chakouba(invitation to a feast).
On Ningol Chakouba day, parents or brothers invite their married daughters or sisters to their parent’s home for a grand feast and lavish gifts are given to them.
The women bedecked in their best finery and laden with gifts of fruits and eatables will go to their parent’s home and enjoy the day.
It is a special day for them. They are the guests of honour and will be served, and not made to do any work. After the lunch, their parents, uncles or brothers will give them lavish gifts.
My mother passed away in 2004. Since I live with my father, he can’t exactly invite me to a feast. Instead, my daughter and I are invited by my uncle. Every year, even before my marriage, I was invited to my uncle’s place for the Chakouba. Yes. Unmarried women can also be invited by their relatives.
My day is celebrated at my uncle’s place. He is a great doctor, who gave up his secure government job and started a private hospital on his own. The details I have written on Medium. The link is given below.
I met all my aunts too on that day. It was a wonderful day of family, tradition, gifts and delicious food.
Thank you so much for reading my post!
https://medium.com/write-a-catalyst/my-ningol-chakouba-celebration-d3c2fd291c13
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