Bhai Dooj, the Hindu festival celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters, was observed on October 23, 2025, marking the conclusion of the five-day Diwali festivities. Simultaneously, Manipur celebrated Ningol Chakouba, a traditional Meitei festival symbolising the bond between married women and their parental families. Married women (Ningols) returned to their paternal homes dressed in elegant traditional Manipuri attire, accompanied by their husbands and children, to partake in a grand feast featuring traditional dishes like fish curry, Eromba, and Chakhao Kheer. In preparation, Manipur's Department of Fisheries organised the Annual Fish Fair cum Fish Crop Competition at Hapta Kangjeibung, Imphal.
Bhai Dooj and Ningol Chakouba Celebrated Across India on October 23
Bhai Dooj and Manipur's Ningol Chakouba celebrated Oct 23; both festivals honour family bonds; Ningol features traditional feast and Meitei cultural traditions.
Key facts
- Bhai Dooj observed on October 23, 2025, concluding the five-day Diwali festivities.
- Manipur celebrated Ningol Chakouba simultaneously — married women (Ningols) returned to paternal homes for grand feast.
- Traditional dishes featured: fish curry, Eromba, and Chakhao Kheer.
- Manipur's Department of Fisheries organised the Annual Fish Fair cum Fish Crop Competition at Hapta Kangjeibung, Imphal.
Mains angle
Q: Compare Bhai Dooj and Manipur's Ningol Chakouba as festivals reflecting family bonds and cultural diversity.
Answer (50 words):
Celebrated on October 23, 2025, Bhai Dooj honours sibling bonds concluding Diwali, while Ningol Chakouba celebrates married women returning to parental homes for traditional Meitei feasts of fish curry, Eromba, and Chakhao Kheer. Both reinforce kinship through distinct regional customs, exemplifying India's cultural pluralism where diverse communities express universal family values.
Static prep for this topic
Read the permanent syllabus behind this story.
6-axis classification
Appears in these topics
Practice MCQ from this story
SolveTap an option below. Correct or incorrect feedback appears instantly.
Which Punjab initiative honoured 5,100 newborn girls on Lohri 2026?
Punjab's 'Dhiyan Di Lohri' initiative honoured 5,100 newborn girls in Jalandhar on Lohri.
Source: DD News
Frequently asked questions
What festivals were celebrated across India on October 23 2025?
**Bhai Dooj** (the Hindu festival of brother-sister bond, celebrated two days after Diwali) and **Ningol Chakouba** (Manipur's traditional festival celebrating the same bond) were both celebrated across India on **October 23, 2025**.
What is Bhai Dooj celebrated for?
**Bhai Dooj** celebrates the **bond between brothers and sisters**. Sisters apply tilak on brothers' foreheads, offer sweets, and pray for their long life and prosperity. It is celebrated on the second day after Diwali.
What is Ningol Chakouba and why is it similar to Bhai Dooj?
**Ningol Chakouba** is Manipur's festival where **brothers invite married sisters** back to their home for a meal and gift-giving, celebrating the sibling bond. Like Bhai Dooj, it honours the **brother-sister relationship** within a cultural festive context.
What community celebrates Ningol Chakouba in Manipur?
**Ningol Chakouba** is celebrated by the **Meitei community** of Manipur. It falls on the second day of the Meitei month of Hiyangei and is one of the most widely observed festivals in Manipur.
How do Bhai Dooj and Ningol Chakouba reflect India's cultural diversity?
The simultaneous celebration of **Bhai Dooj** (Hindu tradition) and **Ningol Chakouba** (Meitei/Manipuri tradition) reflects India's **unity in diversity**, with different regional communities celebrating the same universal theme of sibling love through their own cultural expressions.
Was this useful?
Share corrections or missing exam angles with the editorial team.
Send feedback