The festival began with offering wine to Tingkao Ragwan, the community's deity, by the elderly of the tribe, lighting a fire and staging cultural performances. Sports activities, grand feastings, musical shows and lots of different programmes and ritual practices will follow in the rest of the days.
The state-level celebration was held at the historic palace compound in the heart of Imphal with MP Thangso Baite attending as the chief guest.
Though the Zelaingrong people are predominantly settle in the remote Tamenglong district, they also stay in large numbers in various parts of the four valley-districts of Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur and Thoubal. "I have invited many friends and relatives belonging to other communities like Meitei, Kuki to the Gaan Ngai feast at my residence," said S Kamei, a Zeliangrong tribe member staying in Imphal. In his Gaan Ngai greetings, governor Gurbachan Jagat said the ceremony, which literally means the festival of inter-season, is a time for paying homage to the souls the departed the year before.
"The festival marks the end of a year and heralds a new one and it is also an occasion of worship, joy and merriment. The people living in Manipur belong to various ethnic groups and they have been living together in harmony from time immemorial. The festival provides them with an opportunity to come together and work for peace and harmony in the society," he added.
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