Witoubou Newmai
In an atmosphere where full-blown troubles often emerge instantly from meagre matters and the culture of hurling extremely ‘generous’ jibes among groups of people or communities are imperiously becoming the norm, rather than an exception, the kind of the seed sowing festival of the Southern Nagas can be considered cutting the ice exercise.
Lui-Ngai-Ni is celebrated by the Southern Nagas in the middle of February every year.
In the past few years now, the United Naga Council (UNC) has been extending invitations to all the neighbouring communities in the State of Manipur to the celebrations of the Nagas’ seed sowing festival.
Celebrated under the theme, ‘Oneness through culture’, organizations such as the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), Zomi Council, Mizo People’s Convention, Thadou Inpi, All Manipur United Clubs Organisation (AMUCO), Democratic Alliance Students’ Association of Manipur (DESAM), All Manipur Muslim Organisations Co-ordinating Committee (AMMOCOC), Hmar Inpui, Committee of Civil Societies of Kangleipak (CCSK) and many other organizations were invited to this year’s Lui-Ngai-Ni, which was held in Ukhrul town.
We have mentioned the above organizations particularly to tell that they have their respective agenda and interests which often come to serious confrontations.
In their post-festival acknowledgement, the State Level Organising Committee (SLOC) of this year’s Lui-Ngai-Ni under the aegis of the UNC had expressed that the participation of the above-mentioned organizations in the festival had made the event “one of the grandest and most colourful festivals”.
According to the organizing committee of the festival, this year's edition was aptly themed as "Oneness through culture" to encourage the celebrants to embrace the spirit of oneness.
It also said that the “mission” of Lui-Ngai-Ni is to safeguard and sustain cultural practices and also to foster "ecological citizenship for social engineering". It added that Lui-Ngai-Ni expresses the oneness of Nagas as people, invoking God's blessing and the spirit of brotherhood, love, peace and prosperity.
“In this backdrop, the organizing committee reflects the wisdom of our forefathers and extend our hearty welcome to every soul irrespective of race, class, creed or gender to come and experience the colours of unity in diversity…” the organizing committee added.
True to the Lui-Ngai-Ni 2020’s promotion of love and brotherhood, a song extending solidarity to those victims of Coronavirus was also presented during the festival.
The point now is to help people maintain a sense of balance and rationality as they pursue their respective goals.
