Festivals in Manipur in October 2025: A Glimpse into the Rich Culture and Spiritual Traditions
Manipur, a state in northeastern India, is known for its vibrant culture, rich traditions, and spiritual diversity. October, in particular, is a month of grand festivities that bring together the people of this region to celebrate their deities, ancient customs, and the changing of seasons. With its mix of Hindu, indigenous, and folk traditions, the festivals of Manipur in October 2025 promise to offer a fascinating insight into the spiritual and cultural life of the state.
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From the family-centric Ningol Chakouba, which highlights the importance of familial bonds, to the mesmerizing rituals of Kati Bihu that mark the end of the harvest season, October’s festivals are a beautiful reflection of Manipur’s deep-rooted heritage. Let’s dive into some of the key festivals celebrated in Manipur during October, and explore their significance, rituals, and the joy they bring to the community.
1. Ningol Chakouba: A Festival of Family and Harmony
Ningol Chakouba is one of the most important and widely celebrated festivals in Manipur. It is primarily a festival of women and is celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy. The festival falls on the second day of the bright fortnight of the month of Kartika (usually in October), and it holds deep significance for the Manipuri people, especially for the Meitei community.
Cultural and Religious Significance
Ningol Chakouba is a day dedicated to the celebration of the bond between married daughters and their parental families. It is a day when married daughters, or “Ningols,” are invited by their parents to return home for a feast. The festival celebrates love, unity, and the importance of family ties in Manipuri society. It also symbolizes the harmonious relationship between the two families—husband’s and wife’s—fostering an environment of mutual respect and goodwill.
The festival is rooted in the ancient traditions of the Meitei people and is considered a time for both family reunion and religious offerings. It also honors the goddess of fertility and family welfare.
Rituals and Celebrations
- Welcoming the Ningols: On the day of Ningol Chakouba, married daughters are welcomed by their parents with open arms. They are treated with great respect and are given gifts such as clothes, jewelry, and money.
- Feasts and Offerings: Families prepare a lavish feast, which includes a variety of traditional Manipuri dishes like Eromba (a spicy mashed vegetable dish), Nga-Thongba (fish curry), and sweets. The feast symbolizes abundance and prosperity in the household. Offerings are also made to the family’s ancestral deities and gods to invoke their blessings for happiness and well-being.
- Cultural Celebrations: Traditional dances, including the famous Manipuri Ras Leela, are performed during the evening. These dances celebrate the divine love between Lord Krishna and Radha, and they add a sense of devotion and spirituality to the celebrations.
Date of Ningol Chakouba in October 2025: Ningol Chakouba will be celebrated on October 23rd, 2025.
2. Kati Bihu: A Harvest Festival with Rituals of Gratitude
Kati Bihu, also known as the Kati Sankranti or Bihu festival, is an important harvest festival celebrated by the people of Manipur, especially in rural areas. The festival is observed in October, marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the sowing season for winter crops.
Cultural and Religious Significance
Kati Bihu is closely linked to the agricultural calendar, and it is dedicated to the goddess of agriculture. It is a time when farmers offer their gratitude for the good harvest and seek blessings for the next crop season. The festival reflects the agrarian nature of Manipur’s economy and the deep spiritual connection the people share with the land.
Rituals and Celebrations
- Lighting of Lamps: A key feature of Kati Bihu is the lighting of earthen lamps or diyas around the house and fields. This ritual symbolizes the removal of darkness and the arrival of prosperity. The lighting of lamps is also seen as an offering to the gods to protect the crops and ensure a bountiful harvest in the coming seasons.
- Worship of the Fields: Farmers perform rituals to honor the fields where the crops are planted. Special prayers are offered to deities associated with agriculture, asking for protection and blessings for the coming season. Many farmers also place new seeds in the sacred fields, invoking the goddess of harvest for divine intervention.
- Feasting and Offerings: Families prepare traditional dishes made from newly harvested crops, including rice, vegetables, and locally grown fruits. The food is offered to the gods as a sign of gratitude and is later shared with family members, friends, and neighbors.
- Cultural Performances: Kati Bihu is also a time for traditional dances, including La-Tei-Mee and other folk dances, where people gather in open spaces to celebrate the end of the harvest season with music and dance.
Date of Kati Bihu in October 2025: Kati Bihu will be celebrated on October 17th, 2025.
3. Maha Saptami: The Beginning of Durga Puja Celebrations
Durga Puja is one of the most significant festivals for Hindus, especially in the eastern states of India. Although it is predominantly associated with West Bengal, Durga Puja celebrations in Manipur are equally grand and filled with devotion. The festival typically spans several days, with Maha Saptami marking the beginning of the Durga Puja celebrations. In Manipur, Durga Puja holds deep religious importance, as it is believed that Goddess Durga protects the land and people from evil forces.
Cultural and Religious Significance
Maha Saptami is observed on the seventh day of the Durga Puja festival and is dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga, who symbolizes power, protection, and divine justice. The rituals performed during this day are believed to invoke the goddess’s blessings for the prosperity and well-being of the people.
Rituals and Celebrations
- Installation of the Idol: On Maha Saptami, the idol of Goddess Durga is installed in temples and pandals (temporary booths), where devotees gather to offer prayers. The idol is usually made of clay and adorned with intricate clothing and jewelry.
- Prayers and Fasting: Devotees observe fasts and engage in spiritual practices such as chanting mantras, offering flowers, fruits, and sweets to the goddess, and participating in special prayers.
- Cultural Performances and Community Gatherings: As the days progress, cultural performances such as Manipuri dance forms and theater are held. These performances are dedicated to Goddess Durga and are a way of expressing gratitude for her protection and blessings.
Date of Maha Saptami in October 2025: Maha Saptami will be celebrated on October 24th, 2025.
4. Lai Haraoba: A Festival of Sacred Songs and Dance
Lai Haraoba is a traditional Manipuri festival that has its roots in the worship of the indigenous gods and spirits of the land. Though this festival is celebrated in various months throughout the year, special observances and smaller gatherings may take place during October.
Cultural and Religious Significance
Lai Haraoba is a festival dedicated to the gods and spirits of the Meitei people. It is a time for honoring the deities of the land through music, dance, and prayers. The festival has an important cultural significance as it strengthens the relationship between the people and their gods, promoting harmony and well-being in society.
Rituals and Celebrations
- Sacred Songs and Dances: One of the main features of Lai Haraoba is the performance of sacred songs and dances. These performances are meant to honor the gods and invoke their blessings for the community.
- Offerings to Deities: Offerings of fruits, flowers, and grains are made at temples and sacred sites. Priests conduct rituals, including the chanting of hymns, to appease the gods and ask for their protection.
- Community Celebrations: The festival brings the community together, with families gathering for prayers and feasts. Traditional Manipuri food is prepared, and the celebrations involve much merrymaking and joy.
