Naga Festivals

Background of Naga festivals:

Nagaland is a land of festivities. People of Nagaland celebrate their festivals with great fervor and honor. Nagas are an agrarian lot and therefore their festivals revolve round agriculture.

Nagaland is also famous for its scenic beauty. Most of the people live on hill tops overlooking the streams. Enjoying the bliss of nature, the Nagas celebrate all their festivals with equal enthusiasm.

While celebrating the festivals, the Nagas offer prayers to the Supreme Being which has different names in different dialects. The festivities are marked with sacrifices and are mostly celebrated either before the sowing season or on the eve of the harvest season.

Some are celebrated to thank the Almighty for a good harvest. The locals celebrate various festivals in their own different ways.

Angami:

Sekrenyi is celebrated in the month of February and falls on the 25th day of the Angami month of Kezei. It is a 10-day long festival and the Angamis also call it Phousanyi. .

Number of rituals and ceremonies are associated with Sekrenyi. The first ritual is “Kizie” followed by “Dsuseva” or touching the sleeping water. The most interesting part of the festival is known as the Thekra Hie where young men and women sing traditional songs throughout the day.

Bridge pulling or gate pulling is an important ritual of the festival which falls on the eighth day. People stop working during this time as most of them indulge in feasting and singing.

The statue was bathed with 504 kalashas on the second day while 1008 kalashas were used for the rest of the days.

Aos:

Moatsü Mong is celebrated by the Aos after the sowing is complete. It is observed for three days from May 1st to the 3rd. The most important ritual is the Sangpangtu where men and women sit around a big fire.

Like most of the Naga festivals it is marked with food, music and dance. The women serve meat and wine to the men. Another festival that the Aos celebrate on the eve of harvest is Tsungrem Mong. Village elders demonstrate their physical and intellectual skills.

Chakhesangs:

The Chakhesangs celebrate seven festivals in a year. They are:
SUHKRUHNYE - 15th January
NGUNYE - 1st February
TSAKRONYE - 1st Sunday of March 4
TSUKHANYE/TSUKHENYIE - 6th May
KHUTHONYE - 15th July
TURHINYE - 25th August
THURINYE KHILUVAT? - 1st December
Of these Suhkruhnye is the most important festival and is spread over 11 days.

Chang:

The Changs observe six festivals in a year. They are Poang Lem, Jeinyu Lem, Kundang Lem, Muong Lem, Naknyu Lem and Monyu Lem. While the first three are monitored by the Haongang Clan, the last three are observed by the Ung Clan.

Kundang Lem which is the youngest festival and is fixed five days ahead is observed in the eighth month of the Chang calendar while Naknyu Lem is fixed just two days ahead and celebrated in July.

Several cultural programmes and exhibitions were held during the mahamasthakabhisheka in 2006. The stalls in the exhibition were devoted to various themes related to Jainism. Different state and central government organizations also took part in this exhibition.

Khiamniugan:

Khiamniugans celebrate Miu which is held in the first week of May every year. It is a festival to forgive and forget. During this festival, the maternal uncle builds a friendly relation with his sister’s children. The Changs offer a thanksgiving prayer to the Almighty during Tsokum which is observed during the first week of October.

Koyank Community:

The Koyank community celebrates Aoleang Monyu in the first week of April each year. The Koyanks celebrate the beginning of spring and thank God for the bountiful harvest. It is spread over six days and each day has its own significance. The days are named as ; Hoi Lai Yah Nyih, Yin Mok Pho Nyih, Yin Mok Shek Nyih, Lingnyu Nyih , Lingha Nyih and Lingshan Nyih.

Lothas:

The harvest festival of the Lothas is known as Tokhu Emong. It is spread over nine days and is celebrated each year in the first week of November. It is a festival marked with reconciliation, thanks giving and sharing. Past animosity is forgiven and new ties and bonds are formed. The festival is also marked with feast, song and dance.

Phoms:

The Phoms celebrate four festivals in a year. They are Monyu, Moha, Bongvum and Paangmo. Out of these Monyu is the most important festival and falls in the month of Aril each year after the sowing season. It is usually celebrated from the 1st of April to the 6th of April each year. It heralds the New Year and bids farewell to the passing year. While Moha is celebrated to mark the sowing season, Bongvum is the harvest festival.

Pochury:

The Pochuries wait for the whole year to celebrate their harvest festival, Yemshe. All Pochuries participate in this festival with great pomp and gaiety

Rengmas:

Ngadah is celebrated by the Rengmas just after the harvest season. It usually falls towards the end of November. People rejoice and offer thanksgiving prayers to the Almighty.

Sangtams:

The Sangtams celebrate about 12 festivals in a year. Amongmong which is celebrated in the first week of September is the most important festival of the Sangtams. It is spread over six days.

Sumis:

The Sumis celebrate Ahuna, a post harvest festival with great spirit and fervor. The Sumi people celebrate Tulini, another important festival with drinking and feasting.

Yimchungrü:

Metumniu festival is the most important festival of the Yimchungrüs. It is spread over five days and has five names for five different days namely, SHITO, ZHIHTO, ZUMTO, KHEHRESUK, SHERESUK. Tsungkamniu is another significant festival of the Yimchungrüs which is celebrated every year between the 14th and the 16th of January.

Zeliang:

The Zeliangs celebrate Hega festival in the month of February from the 10th and 15th of every year. The festival lasts for five days and it invokes the Almighty to shower his blessings upon the people.

Chega Gadi is another important festival of the Zeliangs. The Zeliangs believe that God showers his blessings and brings good harvest and health. Earlier the festival was celebrated for 4-5 days. Now, it is usually celebrated for only 3-4 days.