Lui Ngai ni

Lui Ngai Ni is one of the biggest festivals celebrated in Manipur, India. It is a unique way of respecting and conciliating the divine forces appealing to god for the excellent health and prosperity of the general population. It is celebrated every year on 14-15 February during spring.

Origin, History, & Significance of Lui Ngai Ni

Lui Ngai Ni festival commemorates the season of seed sowing and embarks on the start of the new year for the people of the Naga clan. Like most indigenous people, the Nagas have no written history about their traditions, values, customs and beliefs except those which passed through traditions in the form of music, art, dance, wood-carvings, festivals etc. In 1987, this festival was given a collective shape and recognized the efforts of the Naga community. As a result, it has been declared a public holiday by the Government of Manipur.

Considering the need for a typical festival, Naga leaders and scholars organized a seminar to formulate a celebration. Finally, the Naga Seed Sowing Festival was considered the most important and declared the permanent Naga festival by the state government. It has also been listed as one of the tourism festivals by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.

 

Nagas of Manipur, which include Mao, Rongmei, Tangkhul, Moyon, Anal, Tarao, Poumai, Chothe, Montana, Koireng, Thangal, Puimei, Lamkanq, Chiru, Kharam, Maram, Zeme, Linangmai, and Maring get together at a pre-decided location and celebrate the Lui Ngai Ni festival together. Lui Ngai Ni is derived from three different languages – the first word, “Lui”, stands for Luiraphanit, a seed-sowing festival in Tangkhul. Then, “Ngai” also means a festival which is a Rongmei word, and lastly “, Ni” comes from the Mao language meaning seed sowing festival.

When is Lui Ngai Ni Celebrated?

This colourful festival marks the new year of the Manipuri clan and is observed on 14-15 February. People of the Naga Tribe from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland also join the festival. Lui Ngai Ni festival signifies love, unity and peace among Naga clans from different regions.

How is Lui Ngai Ni Celebrated and Where to Go?

The festival celebrations witness various cultural programmes, cultural performances, fire lighting, traditional dancing and singing. It allows the youth to connect with their culture and traditions. It is also a significant platform for various local artists and musicians to showcase their talent. Traditional drum beating is one of the performing arts seen in this festival. It revolves around the popular belief of offering prayers to god and getting blessed with a prosperous harvesting season. The festival sees thousands of participants across different regions of the North East.

This festival is celebrated in most Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur, but the district headquarters are the main places hosting the festivity, namely Chandel, Senapati, Ukhrul and Tamenglong. The festival also witnesses indigenous sports like oiled bamboo pole climbing by the tribal people. Here is some more information about these beautiful places hosting Lui Ngai Ni 2021-

• Chandel: Located amidst the hills of the northeast, it is home to various flora and fauna. It is well connected to cities in and around and is easily accessible through the roadways. The bus station is located at the heart of the town.
• Senapati: It is one of the best destinations of Manipur, with hilly landscapes, rugged mountains and pristine rivers. It is well connected with Guwahati and Dipamur via roads.
• Ukhrul has located about 105 km from the Imphal International Airport and 314 km from the Dimapur railway station. Buses or cabs can be hired from the station or the airport to reach Ukhrul.
• Tamenglong: A bus can be boarded from Dimapur or Guwahati to Imphal and then to Tamenglong. It is located about 142 km from Imphal. The journey provides beautiful scenic views and is one of the most preferred rides by tourists.

Witness North-East India’s biggest two-day festival with folk songs, the blowing of Lui-Ngai-Ni trumpet, the beating of drums, solo performances and cultural dances by the Naga tribes! Suppose you are interested in being part of the Lui Ngai Ni 2023 festivities and would like to travel to any of the destinations on this occasion. In that case, redBus can take you to the desired destination comfortably. Book an online bus ticket through redBus by saving time and money. Download the redBus app now or visit redBus, India website to book your tickets and participate in Lui Ngai Ni festivities.