Tarensoba Chang
Social and Cultural Secretary, Noksen Students’ Union
Noksen Village is one of the oldest villages among the Chang villages under Tuensang District. The village lies in the western part of Tuensang District and shares its border with Mokokchung District.
The first festival – “Yabok Among”
“Yabok Among” means the “Festival of Sowing.” In the Noksai dialect, the word “Yabok” refers to the period after completing the sowing of grains and seeds in newly cultivated fields, while “Among” means festival. It is celebrated soon after the people finish planting in their new fields. The festival signifies the completion of sowing and serves as a time for the community to rest, express gratitude, and pray for a prosperous and abundant harvest in the coming season. Unlike other festivals, Yabok Among is observed without the killing or sacrificing of domestic animals.
The Second Festival – “Anovi Among”
In the month of “Dongpho Lutha” (October), the Noksai people celebrate the second festival called “Anovi Among.”
Each year, this festival is celebrated in the month of October, in the Noksai dialect “Dongpho” means “wealth or richness,” and “Lutha” means “month.” It is called the “Month of Wealth and Richness” because, after the harvest, every household has plenty of grain and no one goes hungry.
Meaning of “Anovi Among”
“Anovi Among” means “Second Festival.”
In the Noksai dialect, “Ana” means “two” or “second,” and “Among” means “festival.” This festival is celebrated after the harvest.
The land and area of Noksen Village are vast, and shifting cultivation is practiced every year. In some years, the harvest takes place in September (Tzusu), while in other years, it is completed in early October (Dongpho). Hence, the celebration of this festival begins after the completion of the harvest. Anovi Among is celebrated for four days.
Festival Customs
During the celebration, people share and exchange meat, food, wine, and sticky rice with uncles, aunties, friends, and relatives. In the old days, there was no oil or ghee, so people used walnuts while steaming sticky rice in earthen pots to make it soft, oily, and flavorful — this is called “Khangbü Phatbü.”
Throughout the summer, villagers are busy with farming and have little time to visit or share with others. Therefore, during Anovi Among, people visit one another, giving and sharing food and wines.
Celebration Activities
Day 1: Preparation (Akhang Tangla)
On this day, the entire village prepares for the celebration. Villagers collect Pampano leaves, while others go for hunting, fishing, or catching crabs in the nearby streams.
Day 2: Lümki (Totishi):
After mixing sticky rice with walnut kernels and steaming it in an earthen pot covered with Pampano leaves, children begin distributing the sticky rice (Khangbü Phatbü) to the elders and share it with friends, relatives, and neighbors. This begins early in the morning.
In the evening, all youths from the four sectors gather in their respective sector Morungs, where they make bonfires, sing, and dance to folk songs. They wear hats made from the culm sheath of bamboo. Elders will encourage unmarried men and women to marry during this time, as after the festival everyone becomes busy cultivating new farms for the next year. And teach them traditional folk songs including (“Süngpenkhün Ayo” - Love song)
“Züngküm mongpho yatedle, zütelanüng süngku sangku yatedla.
Zütelanüngonang yosi mütan kudak kumele.
Alianung wasawala chubang mongene longji pangmei sentong temane ne yemkü yemdang ngohone.”
Meaning of the song:
“Winter has arrived, the cicadas are buzzing; young unmarried men and women should prepare for marriage and seek their partners from one end to the other.”
Day 3: Village Cleaning (Sang Saopobü / Yem-Lum-thüp):
On this day, all the men from each sector gather in their respective Morungs. The younger men (Hakübü Nashousi) go out to clean roads and water sources used by the community.
After the work is done, they cut the tallest and healthiest Dendrocalamus sinicus bamboo (Tei Ngat) for Kokou “Chitong.” The bamboo’s branches are trimmed, leaving twelve that bend toward the sunrise. The bamboo is erected near the sector Morung.
Decorations are made entirely from bamboo culm sheaths. On top, Mithun horns are crafted. On the twelve branches, symbols of the sun, moon, stars, fish, and crabs are hung. A wooden piece is tied in the middle, carved with hornbill heads on both sides. Around it hangs a round ball made of rope, and it is decorated with new Licuala grandis plant leaves, made to look like human hair.
These decorations are hung by skilled elders, and the Kokou remains standing until the windy season. If any decoration made by an individual falls before the Kokou is taken down, it is believed that the person will not have good fortune in cultivation that year.
On this day, some men also pierce their earlobes as a symbol of warriorhood.
Symbolism of the (Chitong) Kokou Decorations:
• Mithun horns: Heroism and wealth
• Sun, moon, stars, fish, and crabs: Gratitude to nature, as our forefathers worshiped nature.
• Hornbill head: Hope that unmarried women will find handsome husbands.
• New Licuala grandis leaves (hair): Symbolize unmarried men finding beautiful wives.
• Round ball of rope: Represents the human head taken during war, symbolizing bravery in ancient times.
Day 4: Lamjim (Alo-Lümthüp):
On this day, villagers go out to clean and clear paths leading to their cultivated areas. Each sector clears the roads connecting to neighboring villages.
Noksen Village is governed by generations (Mütten), namely: Yemyosangi, Noklangkhangi, Mupongsangi, and Sanjoisangi. At present, the Sanjoisangi Mütten is governing the village, and each generation rules for thirty (30) years.
During this day, the ruling Mütten sends young members to check whether wild betel nuts (Kai Lang) are bearing seeds. If so, the Mütten informs neighboring villages to gather for communal fishing (Kai Shela).
The Kokou decorations can be seen from neighboring villages, they notice the decorations shining from afar.
Post-Festival Gathering
After the festival ends, toward the end of October, villagers gather again for Punglüm (Anongthem).
On this day, all the men from each sector inspect every corner of the village. Each Juthem (elders of the Sectors, who are retired from community work ) brings one cock and a dish of cannellini bean salad, and they gather at the Morung.
On the same day, new Juthem are formally entered, and new Hakübü (young men who newly take on community responsibilities) are initiated.
In modern times, the new generation call this festival “Lakhek Lüm,” in short, meaning “Walnut Festival,” because of the tradition of mixing walnuts with sticky rice while steaming in earthen pots, but the Walnuts is just a part of the festival, and the nomenclature of “Anovi Among” Cannot be changed.
