Ningol Chakouba

     In Manipuri, 'Ningol' means daughter and 'Chakouba' means invitation for a lunch in the mother's house. 'Ningol Chakouba' is a special day for the married daughters in Manipur.This is a very special day for all the people of Manipur. This day is special because this festival shows the love between the brothers and their sister.The festival of Ningol chakouba is an extremely loved and widely celebrated festival among the Meities community. The married women, who are married to distant places return to parent’s house along with their children.


   Ningol Chakouba is a social festival of merriment celebrated in the state of Manipur. It is mainly celebrated by the Meiteis or the Vaishnavites. The significance of the festival can be well understood by its name itself. The meaning of “Ningol” is married women and “Chakouba” is going to parent’s house. Thus, the festival involves the married women going to their parent’s house.


  On this special day, a grand feast of 'iinjang mathen-mathen' (various cuisines) is prepared in the honor of the daughter at her 'mapam' (mother's house). The invitation is formally done generally a week ahead by the brothers to pay a visit for the lunch. 

On 'Ningol Chakouba' married daughters visit their 'mapam' (mother's house) wearing their finest and bring fruits and sweets for the family. 'Kabok Khoidum', 'Rasogullas',' Samosa', 'Kachoari', 'Sev Bhujia' are some of the special snacks that ningols gets it for the family. 

And along with the other fruits, coconut is a must. Daughters have lunch along with all the family members. The lunch session is usually long as it is always accompanied with chitchat. Daughters are presented gifts by the parents and brothers. 

While receiving the gifts from the brothers, younger ones are blessed by elder ones for well being and prosperity in life. And at the end of the day everyone bid goodbye to the happy ningol who is made special on this occasion. 

For family having many married ningols, a grand feast prepared by a 'bamon' (the cook) is arranged and everyone have the lunch together and it's again almost like a 'mapam chakouba' (marriage reception). 

'Sareng', one of the expensive fish is the favourite of the day for many ningols. 'Rohu' again another type of fresh water fish is also enjoyed by many as fried item or curry. 'Catla' and 'Grass Carp' too is prepared in curry form. 

At their parent’s place, the women are pampered with food, gifts and total comfort. Mothers are seen preparing lavish and extensive meals for their daughters. Parents warmly welcome their daughters and grand children.

The reason behind the fondness of the festival is the effect it has on strengthening the family ties. It is basically a source of family reunion and get- togethers. The festival proudly portraits the affection parents have for their daughters and vice-versa. The women in Manipur fondly wait for this festival giving them a reason to reunite with their parents living far away. Earlier mainly observed by the Meities community in the present times this festival is observed by the Pangals or the Manipuri Muslims to some extent.

Sangai " Brow And Antlered Deer"

 

Sangai " Brow And Antlered Deer"

                  The Sangai is an endemic, rare and endangered Brow-antlered deer found only in Manipur, India. Its common English name is Brow-antlered Deer and the scientific name, Rucervus eldi eldi  McClelland. It lives in the marshy wetland in Keibul Lamjao about 45 km from Imphal. Its habitat is located in the southern parts of the Loktak Lake, which is the largest  freshwater lake in Eastern India. It is also one of the seven Ramsar sites of international importance. The habitat of the Sangai is now protected as the Keibul Lamjao National Park. Sangai is also the state animal of Manipur

   Sangai Is Known to Found Only at Keibul Lamjao National park In Manipur, India

       
The brow-antlered deer (scientific name, Cervus eldi eldi) once believed to be extinct, was rediscovered in the year 1953. It is found only in Manipur and is also called Sangai.

          The Brow-antlered deer is a medium-sized deer, with uniquely distinctive antlers, measuring 100-110 cm. in length with extremely long brow tine, which form the main beam. The two tines form a continuous curve at right angles to the closely set pedicels. This signifies its name, brow-antlered deer, the forward protruding beam appears to come out from the eyebrow. The antlers of the opposite sides are unsymmetrical with respect to each other. The beams are unbranched initially whereas curvature increases as length increases and they get forked also. The sexes are moderately dimorphic in body size and weight. The height and weight of a fully grown stag may be approximately 115-125 cm at shoulder and 95 to 110 kg (210 to 230 lb) respectively. The height and weight of the female are shorter and less as compared to the male counterpart. The length of the body from the base to the ear up to the tail is about 145 to 155 cm in both sexes. The tail is short and rump patch is not pronounced.

      

Sangai feed on a variety of water living plants, grasses, herbaceous plants, and shoots. Zizania latifolia, Saccharum munja, S. bengalensis, Erianthus procerus, E. ravernnae, etc. are the favorite food plants of Sangai. Feeding behavior of Sangai can be easily seen over new shoots on freshly cut fire line area. It exhibits a bimodial activity pattern. Sangai starts grazing usually early morning approximately 4:30 am and generally continue up to 8:00 am. On cloudy morning the period may extend to 10:00 am. In the evening it starts at 3:00 pm and continue up to 6:00 pm. After feeding it takes rest. During day time it rests under thick and tall reeds and grasses. At night some of them even rest on the hillocks.

   There is A great Chance that this beautiful creation Of Nature may be found nowhere to be seen except some wall photo on  walls. Please Help Save Sangai

                         SAVE SANGAI