Dark Diwali night in conflict-torn Manipur‘s valley districts
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.
