The Liangmai community in Delhi and NCR celebrated Chaga Ngee and Liangmais’ Meet 2023 at Community Centre, PTS Malviya Nagar, Delhi on October 28 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 event was attended by Awangbow Newmai, minister of water resources, relief & disaster management, Government of Manipur as the chief guest.
Speaking at the event, Awangbow Newmai 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 also 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, 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.
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 Major Moses Charenamai (retd.) welcomed the ‘freshers’ and shared his thought 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, Namridinbou Newmai, the co-convenor of the event, gave emphasis on the importance of knowing and coming together with the community. He was thrilled to see the co-operation and support from the community to organize this event.
The event was attended by around 700 members.
Special guests of the programme included Lois Charenamai, associate professor Department of English, Tamenglong College, Manipur; 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.
