Every year, the Department of Fisheries, Manipur, organises the Annual Fish Fair cum Fish Crop Competition on the day ahead of the Ningol Chakouba festival.
The Ningol Chakouba festival is a major annual celebration in Manipur, India, that honors and strengthens the bond between married women (Ningol) and their parental families. The term Ningol means "married woman," and Chakouba means "invitation for a feast". 
Key aspects of the festival

• Family reunion: Married daughters and their children are invited to their paternal homes for a grand traditional feast. This creates a joyous reunion and strengthens family ties.
• Focus on sisters and daughters: The festival emphasizes the special bond between brothers and sisters and the respect given to married women. The brothers and parents lovingly offer gifts to the Ningols as a token of affection and blessings.
• Feasting: The meal is a central part of the celebration, with elaborate and delicious traditional Manipuri dishes being prepared. These often include various fish curries (Nga-Thongba), Manipuri chutney (Eromba), and other vegetarian dishes.
• Gifts and blessings: After the feast, parents and brothers present gifts to the married daughters. In return, the daughters offer their respects and prayers for the family's happiness and longevity.
• Inclusivity: Though traditionally celebrated by the Meitei community, other communities in Manipur have also embraced the festival, further promoting unity and harmony. 

Origins of the festival
The festival's origins trace back to the era of King Nongda Lairen Pakhangba in 33 AD, when his sister Laisana invited her brother Poireiton to her home for a feast. However, the tradition changed to the modern Ningol Chakouba around the 19th century under King Chadrakirti Singh. Finding it difficult to visit his sisters' homes, he began the practice of inviting his sisters to the palace for the feast, establishing the tradition as it is known today. 
When and where it is celebrated

• Date: Ningol Chakouba is celebrated on the second lunar day of the Manipuri calendar month of Hiyangei, which typically falls in October or November.
• Location: The festival is primarily celebrated in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur. It has become a state holiday and is a significant cultural event for the Manipuri people.

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