Gann-Ngai around the world in 2024

Gann-Ngai around the world in 2024
Rongmeis of Manipur during Gaan-Ngai 2014 Image by Ashok Ningthoujam , via Wikimedia Commons
  How long until Gann-Ngai?
There are no upcoming dates for this event
  Dates of Gann-Ngai around the world
2024 IndiaJan 23
Manipur Tue, Jan 23Regional Holiday
2023 IndiaJan 4
Manipur Wed, Jan 4Regional Holiday
2022 IndiaJan 15
Manipur Sat, Jan 15Regional Holiday
2021 IndiaJan 26
Manipur Tue, Jan 26Regional Holiday
2020 IndiaJan 8
Manipur Wed, Jan 8Regional Holiday
  Summary

A new year festival of the Zeliangrong people of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland

When is Gann Ngai?

Gann Ngai is a regional public holiday in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur on the 13th day of the month of Wakching in the Manipuri calendar. It falls in either December or January in the western calendar.

It is also known as Chakaan Gaan Ngai and is the biggest festival of Zeliangrong community.

Traditions of Gann Ngai

Gann Ngai takes place after the end of the harvest season. Gaan-Ngai literally means the festival of winter season. Gaan or Ganh means winter or dry season and Ngai means festival.

The Zeliangrong people, comprising the Zemei, Liangmei and the Rongmei tribes, are one of the major indigenous communities living in Manipur. They also have sizable populations in the neighbouring states of Assam and Nagaland.  

Celebrated over five or seven days, the Gaan-Ngai festival consists of series of rites and rituals. The most significant part of the festival is the worshipping of "Tingkao Ragwang", which is the Supreme God. During this festival they thank the god for a good year and pray for a better and happy new year.

This is a festival during which those who died in the previous year are given a ritual farewell or departure; their graves are beautified; dances are performed and a feast is held in honour of the dead, which is why this festival is sometimes known as the festival of the dead and the living

At the beginning of this festival the head of the village creates a 'new fire' by rubbing bamboo cord with bamboo gauze placed under a piece of dry wood. This flame is then distributed to all the households in the village to light their fireplaces. This custom symbolises new and fresh life. This traditional method of making fire is called "Mhai  Lapmei", meaning extraction of the sacred fire.

The festival was declared a Restricted Holiday in Manipur in 1976 and became a public holiday on January 10th 1998, by the then Chief Minister of Manipur Wahengbam Nipamacha Singh.


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