Imphal: While parts of the nation celebrated Diwali, the festival of light on Monday, the valley districts of violence-hit Manipur erupted into a total blackout in the evening for 10 minutes from 6 to 6.10 pm as people, responding to the call of a civil body, turned off electric lights to show solidarity with the victims of the ongoing conflict.
Divergent to the previous years, the valley districts, this time, witnessed no grand Diwali festivities though the Meitei Vaisnavites observed the day at their respective residences in low key with worshipping Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and fortune.
The same symbolic way of showing solidarity with the strife victims will also be seen on Ningol Chakkouba, the biggest festival of Manipuri women which falls on Wednesday as the people have declared to forgo it.
On Ningol Chakkouba day Meitei women, particularly the married ones, attired in their best traditional clothes, move to their natal homes and enjoy a bunch of mouth-watering fish dishes with their siblings and parents.
With blessings and simple gifts given by their parents and brothers, the Ningols (women) return home in high spirits. A number of entertainment programmes like music concerts, Shumang Leela (courtyard theatre), etc. are also held during Chakkouba day.
The self-explanatory “Co-Ordination Committee Against the Action of Chin Kuki Narco Terrorist & Illegal Immigrants”, on Sunday, appealed to the people not to celebrate Diwali and Ningol Chakkouba this year.
Chana Lembi, chairperson of the committee, said Diwali is one of the biggest festivals for Hindus across the globe to mark the victory of light over darkness and good over evil, but this year, the current strife has doused the festivities for the Hindus in the state .
For over six months, Manipur has been on the boil owing to the current crisis, she said, adding that thousands of people have been rendered homeless and over one hundred were killed in the conflict which is a “dark chapter in” the history of the state, she said.
To show solidarity with the sufferings of the displaced people and show respect to the brave heroes who gave their lives for the motherland in the ongoing conflict, she appealed to the people of the state to switch off their electric lights on Diwali from 6 pm to 6.10 pm.
In her Diwali greetings, Governor Anusiya Uikey, said the illumination on Diwali “ marks the joy and happiness on the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana. Let the light of Diwali dispel hatred , enmity and disunity among the people of the State. I join the people of Manipur in the celebration of Diwali and pray that this festival may bring peace and prosperity to the State.”
Chief minister N Biren Singh said “ the season of joy, festivities, bright lights, sparkles and sweets is here, but this year hundreds of homes will not see the lights of Diwali. Let us keep them in our thoughts and prayers. Let the spirit of Diwali remind us the Good always triumphs over Evil.”
A Meitei Vaisnavite in Imphal East district, Chaoba Sharma said “Unlike the previous years, we only offered fruits and sweets and prayed goddess Lakshmi today without dipping into jollity . There is no meaning at all to celebrate Diwali in a grand manner when over 50,000 people are displaced and taken refuge at relief camps and over 150 were killed in the ongoing conflict.”
Echoing Sharma, Kamla Devi said her family only celebrated Diwali in the humblest way with only offering prayers to goddess Lakshmi.“ Besides Diwali, we will also not celebrate Ninglol Chakkouba this time,” she added.
