A day long Chakan food fiesta – an indigenous food festival of Kabui community was held at Namguilung colony in the crowded new Checkon area under Manipur’s Imphal East district on Wednesday.
A number of mouth watering indigenous food items of the Kabui community were displayed and exhibited for sale at more than two dozen food stalls constructed on the main roadside of the tiny colony during the festival.
The elders of the Namguilung colony formally inaugurated the food fiesta by holding a small but meaningful function with the active participation of the women society of the colony.
According to a Kabui elder who was attending the day’s function when sought his observation, about organizing the festival, said many important and nutritious indigenous food items of the community has been vanishing day by day due to various factors.
So holding of such event will remind and narrate the rich food habits of the community, he felt. Kabuis usually consume Singju, a typical salad-type dish made of raw vegetable with chilli and pork in most of their traditional feasts.
The Kabui, one of the indigenous tribe of Manipur, are fond of meat and non-vegetarian. Meat and even skin are often dried over the fire and stored for future consumption. Salad including pig skin is also one the indigenous food of the community.
Kabui shared very good relations with other communities in the State. They are also settled in every nook of eastern and western regions of Imphal, the capital city of Manipur.
Kabui have their different and distinctive socio-cultural, traditional and linguistic variants and also genetic identity. The Gan Ngai, a post harvest festival held during December-January is an important festival of the community.