Morung Express News Kohima | January 10 Gaan-Ngai – the Rongmei Naga tribe festival was held on January 10 at Khuochiezie, Kohima local ground with Dr. Neiphrezo Keditsu, MLA & Chairman NSMDC as the chief guest and Pou. Namgai Gonmei, President, RNPO as the special conferrer. The celebration began with the fire making ritual of Gaan Ngai festival. Johnny Ruangmei, Advisor, Rongmei Council Kohima (RCK) who shared the significance of the Gaan- Ngai festival mentioned that the premier festival of the Rongmeis is celebrated after the harvest as thanksgiving for the bountiful harvest. It is a five day celebration to thank the Creator as well as pray for the fate of the New Year and the future cultivations. Another significance of the festival is that it is a celebration of both the living and the death, as highlighted by Ruangmai where on the first the day the best portions of the meat, rice beer and food are taken to the graves of loved ones and kept on top of the graves indicating that even the dead celebrate with the living. The second day is marked by sports and games where the youth of the village gather and celebrate with indigenous games and sports. The young also wrestle with the elders whereby they are selected and assigned their Morungs. On the third day, a mock drill on warfare is practiced and showcased to the rest of the village. An essential part of the festival is the gathering at the village gate where an elder will narrate and interpret his dreams and predict the fate and destiny of the New Year. Emphasizing on the importance of preserving the Naga customary values which are diminishing in the present day Dr. Neiphrezo Keditsu lauded the festival organizers because through such celebrations people understand the value of cultures and traditions. Dr. Keditsu also stressed on the importance of unity and fraternity stating that any tribe whether big or small should be united and choose good leaders to progress in the future. The MLA challenged the young generations to be self sufficient and venture into other professions apart from government service, further encouraging the young to take pride of their identities and their professions. Dr. Keditsu also urged the Rongmei community to spread valuable practices of the tribe with other communities. Reminding the gathering on the significance of the festival, Dr. Keditsu exhorted on the importance of loving each other and peaceful co-existence with each other for a better society.
