Yimchungrü community celebrates Metümneo festival
Our Correspondent
Kisama | August 8
The Yimchungrü community of Kohima today celebrated its premier festival Metümneo 2017 here at Naga Heritage Village under the aegis of Yimchungrü Union Kohima (YUK) and hosted by Yimchungrü Gazetted Officers, Kohima. Gracing the festival as special guest, Hoto Yeptho, director, Department of Land Resources said that tribalism is the biggest problem in Nagaland. In this, he called upon the people to remove tribalism and replace with love. Viewing that one should not stand for own tribe alone, own clan alone, own family alone, he said “we should unitedly stand for the cause of Nagas and respect each other.”
Yeptho also stressed on the need to know how to make peace and become peacemakers among the tribes, among the community, clans, khels, villages, family and individuals. He also told the young people that nothing can substitute hard work.
“Without hard labour you will never be successful,” he said and called upon the students not to just study to get the degree but to study to accumulate knowledge to become successful men and women.
The director also encouraged them to study hard and be a responsible citizen and serve the society. Further, he said that hard work is needed even in the field of farming. He maintained that Kholar and Coffee are in high demand in the international market and encouraged the people to take up the same vigorously.
Yeptho also shared the success story of rubber plantation in Wokha and Mokokchung district. “If you are economically stable then you are very much ahead of others but if you are economically weak then you are very much behind others,” Yeptho said. “We should work hard. We should love each other. We should make peace and there should be unity in our society,” he said and challenged the gathering to unite and stand together “so that our life will be successful and our community and our society will move ahead.”
Sharing that significance of Metümneo, YUK advisor M. Yinkiu said that Metümnio is one the greatest festivals of the Yimchungrü. This festival is usually celebrated after the harvest of millet. The festival is connected with the prayers for a year old baby and the soul of the departed ones.
The word “Metümnio” means “feast of spirit’ or ‘feast for spirit.’ The Yimchungrü believed that the spirit of ancestors visits the living members once a year and such meeting takes place during Metümnio festival. It is mandatory for every parent to perform divination during this Metümnio festival in order to see the fate of a year old baby and safeguard their life as well.
Metümnio festival is a time of merry making among old and young groups, displaying generosity by way of sharing meat and food stuff with friends and neighbours. It is also an occasion where new lovers exchange their gifts and engagement are made during this festival. They sing simultaneous songs and dances during Metümnio festival.
K. Murelim, deputy director, art & culture, Nagaland and David Thingchum, president Eastern Nagaland People’s Union Kohima also spoke on the occasion. YUK president T. Kejingkhum delivered welcome address while vote of thanks was proposed by YUK treasurer A. Akhum. Cultural dance, indigenous games, tug of war marked the occasion and concluded with community feast.
