IMPHAL, February 15: “Let’s sow the seeds of love, peace and communal harmony among the different ethnic tribes of Manipur from today on the occasion of Lui-Ngai Ni” Hill Area Committee chairman Chalton Lien Amo said today during the inauguration of State level Lui-Ngai Ni, 2016 held at the Tribal Research Institute (TRI), Chingmeirong. The seed sowing festival Lui-Ngai Ni is the biggest festival of the Nagas living in Manipur.
Addressing the function, Amo said the every ethnic community should sow the seeds of communal harmony in the State during the festival and not just the Nagas.
The State, he said, is today filled with several social ills including gun-culture, kidnapping and killing for ransom.
He further appealed to the people to stay away from such evils and instead sow the seeds of love, peace and communal harmony for a better tomorrow.
Deputy Speaker MK Prreshow Shimray said the Lui Ngai Ni is the biggest festival of the Nagas.
The festival is recognised by the government as a national tourism festival like the Sangai or the Kut, but due to some misunderstanding among the Nagas in the State, the government is unable to organise it in a more befitting manner, he lamented.
Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker Th Lokeshwor Singh said that the festival is meant to strengthen the bond of brotherhood among the different ethnic communities of the State.
Parliamentary secretary, Tribal Affairs & Hills Victor Keishing, MLA Yamthong Haokip, DIG IK Muivah and other government officers and elected ADC members also attended the function.
Performances from various Naga artists including Jaingam Kamei and Thangmeiso Shinglai and other cultural dance troupes of Maring, Mao, Thangal, Thangkhul, Zeliangrong etc also added more significance to the celebration.