A section of the gathering attending the ‘Nagaland Revival & Healing Festival 2025’ held at the State Stadium, Dimapur from December 2 to 4. (Photo Courtesy: Yenkho)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | December 6
A massive religious gathering, the ‘Nagaland Revival & Healing Festival 2025’ (NRHF), concluded recently, drawing an unprecedented crowd of over two lakh attendees on the fourth day, organisers said. The event held from December 2 to 5 at the State Stadium, Dimapur which saw participation from across Nagaland, the northeastern states, and other parts of the country, has ignited conversations on faith and unity.
Organised by a collective called ‘The Gatekeepers,’ the festival speaker was Apostle Ankit Sajwan from the Family of Lord Jesus Christ, New Delhi.
The festival far surpassed initial expectations. Ben Kithan, a core team member, revealed that they had initially anticipated around 40,000 people. “From 40,000, God made it four times more than you expected,” Kithan told The Morung Express. “This is something we have never experienced.”
The scale of the event presented logistical challenges that were met through community support. Besides the gallery space, with only 13,000 chairs arranged initially, educational institutions volunteered additional seating. Transportation hurdles were resolved when the Dimapur Auto Drivers Union and the Dimapur District Two-Wheeler Taxi Association offered free rides without being asked. “If this is not the hand of God, there is no way men can understand,” remarked Wabang Longchari, another organiser.
Similarly, food and refreshments were managed not by the church but by NGOs and local businesses who voluntarily took turns to provide and serve. The budget, initially set at Rs 50 lakh, increased due to a one-day extension, with final accounts still being settled. Notably, funding was raised without the traditional fundraising. “We never went for fund raiser,” Kithan stated, highlighting donations that started modestly and grew over weeks and months.
Following the selection of the venue, the organisers hoped that diverse churches and community groups would take collective ownership. The first major activity after an initial prayer programme was a social work project. The community response was overwhelming, with participants arriving even before the scheduled time. “People were generous in their own way,” said Edward Odyou. “I could see and experience something, and that was unity.”
The organisers reflected on the deeper significance for Nagaland. A key takeaway, they emphasised, was a call to move beyond religious ritual to a personal faith. “Nagas are very entitled Christians. We grow up in Christian family, so we think we know Jesus. It is a reminder that we need to go back to the word,” said core member Naomi Zhimomi.
Longchari stressed that the festival’s focus on scripture distinguished it. “In this revival, people have come for the word of God... This was different because people came for the word,” he observed, countering suggestions that attendees were drawn merely by music or spectacle.
‘Unity is achievable’
On the question of Naga unity, the organisers, a team of ten where only two are full-time pastors with others from secular professions, believe a common faith can be a unifying force. “Absolutely,” said Ben Kithan, drawing parallels with historic Christian missions to Nagaland. “Our intellect does not allow us to see or think that Nagaland will have a better future,” Ben said. He believed that the NRHF, though unexpectedly significant, has arrived at a pivotal moment and will rank as the third greatest event in matters of faith.
Naomi Zhimomi added, “Why not? Unity is achievable. With God all things are possible.” Longchari added that the path forward requires all churches to “keep pursuing” unity and encouraging pastoral collaboration.
On allegations of ‘paid actors,’ the organisers stated that any attendee who claims to have received healing can seek medical confirmation at a diagnostic lab in the civil hospital.
The offerings from the event will be used to cover outstanding organisational expenses and compensate behind-the-scenes workers, the organisers confirmed.
