''Gaan-Ngai'' also known as "''Chakaan Gaan-Ngai''" is a festival of the

Zeliangrong Zeliangrong people are one of the major indigenous Naga communities living in the tri-junction of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland in India. They are the descendants of Nguiba. The term "Zeliangrong" refers to the Zeme, Liangmai and Rongmei Nag ...

people of

Assam Assam (; ) is a state in northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of . The state is bordered by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh to the north; Nagaland and Manipur ...

Manipur Manipur () ( mni, Kangleipak) is a state in Northeast India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. It is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west. It also borders two regions of Myanm ...

and

Nagaland Nagaland () is a landlocked state in the northeastern region of India. It is bordered by the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh to the north, Assam to the west, Manipur to the south and the Sagaing Region of Myanmar to the east. Its capital cit ...

states of

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

. It is the biggest festival out of many festivals observed throughout the indigenous calendar of Rongmei Naga/Kabui tribe.

Relevance

It is also a post harvest festival. It is mainly performed by the followers and devotees of

Indigenous religion of ‘''Poupei Chapriak''’(including Tingkao Ragwang Chapriak and other sects) and ''‘Heraka’''.

Celebration

Gaan-Ngai is traditionally celebrated in the month of "Gaan-Bu" of the indigenous calendar of the Rongmei Naga tribe which typically falls in the Gregorian month of November or December. So, accordingly, Gaan-Ngai is celebrated in Assam as per the date fixed using the indigenous Rongmei Naga Calendar with the said festival having status of Restricted Holiday in Assam. While in Indian state of Manipur, Gaan-Ngai is celebrated in the 13th day of the Manipuri month of "Wakching" of Meetei Manipuri Calendar with the festival being a State holiday in Manipur.

References

Festivals in Manipur Festivals in Assam Festivals in Nagaland Harvest festivals in India Religious festivals in India {{India-festival-stub