Lui-Ngai-Ni Festival

The Naga people in Manipur have been occupying a huge portion of the north eastern state who upkeep their unique and culture with a number of festivals. Their much-vaunted festival is Lui-Ngai-Ni, which is common to all the Naga tribal groups in the state. The festival that marks the onset of the seed sowing season is simultaneously by the Anal, Mao, Maram, Poumai, Tangkhul, Zemei, Liangmai, Rongmei, Puimei, Moyon, Monshang, Maring, Tarao, Lamkanq, Chothe, Kharam, Chiru, Koireng, and Thangal Naga tribes.

Festivity grips the Naga dominated areas in Manipur much before the commencement of the annual event where lots of formalities and activities are lined up. Now a days, it is more a cultural festival and less religious event to pull huge crowd. Basically, this is an occasion to invoke the crop god seeking divine help for bounteous harvest. The deity is invoked with their traditional songs and dances. Apart from ritual activities, the event is an immense opportunity for these tribal people to showcase their cultural potentials. Their enthralling performance draws no less applause from the tourists from the home and abroad who keep visiting the north eastern state. Herein lies the opportunity to boost Naga solidarity in Manipur.       

The Nagas have different festivals and these, mostly, confine to a particular group. But the spring festival is common for all to be celebrated simultaneously in the Naga dominated areas. Only in 1987 Lui-Ngai-Ni took an official and modern concept. The Manipur state government has announced it a holiday to join the festivity. They don’t have a formal set of history which can speak volume of their customs, traditions, legends, beliefs. But every single oral and visual traditions in the forms of songs, dances, wood carvings, festival bear special significance. After all, the festival focusses rich cultural heritage that helps the beautiful north eastern state promote tourism. The best places to visit to share the joy of the festival are Ukhrul, Tamenglong, Chandel, Senapati apart from a huge portion in Churachandpur districts where several Naga tribes are available.