SSC
Lui-Ngai-Ni, a seed-sowing festival of the Naga tribes, is associated with which state?
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Answer: Option B — Manipur
Detailed Solution
Lui-Ngai-Ni is a seed-sowing festival celebrated by the Naga tribes of Manipur. It is held every year on 15 February and marks the beginning of the new agricultural year, when the sowing season begins.
The name of the festival comes from words in different Naga languages: "Lui" (from the Tangkhul language) refers to the seed-sowing season, "Ngai" (from the Zeliangrong language) means festival, and "Ni" (from the Mao and Poumai languages) means day. The name itself shows that the festival brings together several Naga tribes, such as the Tangkhul, Mao, Poumai, Maram, Zeliangrong and others. It was started as a common festival of the Naga tribes of Manipur to promote unity among them.
During the festival, people offer prayers for a good harvest, good health and prosperity. The celebrations include colourful cultural programmes in which the different tribes perform their traditional songs and dances, dressed in their colourful costumes and ornaments. Traditional games, displays of handicrafts and traditional food are also part of the festival. It is celebrated at a different place each year, hosted by one of the Naga communities. The festival is a state holiday in Manipur.
Manipur is home to the Meitei people of the Imphal valley and many tribal communities of the hills, including the Nagas and the Kukis. Other important festivals of Manipur include Lai Haraoba, Yaoshang (the Manipuri Holi), Cheiraoba (New Year), Gaan-Ngai (of the Zeliangrong Nagas), Kut (of the Kuki-Chin-Mizo communities) and the Sangai Festival.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Mizoram is known for Chapchar Kut and Pawl Kut.
- ✗Arunachal Pradesh is known for festivals such as Losar, Solung and Dree.
- ✗Sikkim is known for Losoong and Saga Dawa.
Quick tip
Remember: Lui-Ngai-Ni = the Naga tribes of Manipur, seed sowing and 15 February.
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Festivals & Fairs of India — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Festivals & Fairs of India, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers the religious, harvest, tribal and cultural festivals of India, the fairs (melas) held across the country, and the states, communities and seasons linked to them. It also includes festivals listed by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage, such as Kumbh Mela and Durga Puja in Kolkata. Most questions ask which state celebrates a festival, which tribe it belongs to, or what event it marks. Harvest festivals are especially common: Pongal (Tamil Nadu), Onam (Kerala), Bihu (Assam), Lohri and Baisakhi (Punjab) and Nuakhai (Odisha). Fairs such as the Pushkar camel fair (Rajasthan) and the Sonepur cattle fair (Bihar) are also frequently tested. Revise festivals state by state. Practise the festivals and fairs questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.