Morung Express News
Kohima | February 25
Advisor for Prison, Printing and Stationery, Government of Nagaland, Er Kropol Vitsu today said traditional and cultural values will be lost if one do not understand it’s meaning and significances, and with which a part of our identity will be lost. He was speaking at the two-day Sekrenyi Festival cum Mini Hornbill 2025 which began at Amphitheatre, Naga Heritage Village, Kisama on February 25.
Speaking on how, a festival was observed with set of rituals and ceremonies having its own significant meaning behind its practice, the Advisor said these practices are unique because it defines the tribe or community.
Vitsu said the Sekrenyi Festival for instance, for a village like Viswema was observed for days which began with slaughtering of a cow, then a pig, a dog and on the fourth day a chicken was sacrificed. He highlighted that during the olden days, different villages or region followed the Lunar Calendar and observed the Sekrenyi Festival by completing rituals on a step by step basis while observation the rituals carefully. The Sekrenyi, he opined was a ‘cleansing of the whole’ and expressed how, in the past, it was observed during a time when the whole community in general are not engaged in heavy agricultural labour. Therefore, it falls rightly when all members are free to make merry and come together.
Vitsu also spoke about how Feast of Merit formed a central feature which conferred social status to a family with both the wife and husband alive, each more prized then the preceding one. A man who has successfully hosted the first Feast of Merit is said to have earned a bed and pillow on his death, the second Feast earns him the shawl of honour, the third a stone sitting place or monolith erected and the fourth to earn the Feast of Merit earner a ‘house horn.’
The speaker also expounded the traditional importance that dog meat bore which has been opposed by modern bodies or Organization or animal activists. Dog meat, Vitsu told the attendance was not only relished on particular days during festival and said some villages slaughtered dog and hanged the carcass of the animal in the gate for rituals of chasing bad spirits. These practices, though prominent in the past are not practiced today and with the expansion of time and people and religion some practices have been denounced.
Vitsu, however, advised that knowledge of these cultural and traditional significances and values should be shared during occasion when people come together and encouraged the attendance to reflect on how it is important to acknowledge our unique cultural practical. He also asked people to avoid comparison among different cultures and traditions and not to mix them with other foreign cultures.
The speaker meanwhile lauded the initiative of the State Government for promoting Nagas and the culture and identity of the tribes through the Hornbill Festival which has taken our people to the global map. However, we cautioned that our people have sometimes misused the festival due to immoral practices. “This Festivals and traditions are not just a thing of today or near future but he called to make effort for posterity,” he asserted.
Visosietuo Vüprü administered the blowing of traditional horn and Kruvil Kikhi pronounced the Phichü Ja (elder blessing). Khrietuolie Mezhü & Co presented Folk Song and Angami Public Organization, General Secretary, Keneilesa Neikha expressed welcome note. He said the unique initiative of organizing Sekrenyi this year was to bring young people to experience age old traditions. Neikha called the people to celebrate the festival through the message that it relays in self purification and dedication towards renewal of oneself and for the betterment of society.
Earlier, the programme was chaired by APO Vice President (Judicial), Seyielhoutuo Keyho. Coordinator, PG St Joseph College (Autonomous), Jakhama invoked blessings for the programme. The comperes were Thepfukhrietuo Rüpreo and Vizosienuo Shüya.
Exhibition of Angami ethnic cultural and indigenous games competition were held. The indigenous games included war cry, Tati Pfe, folk song, phrida, traditional fire making, tholi and wooden top spin.
Zenohol Sophie and Kekhrünozo Khazo both from Southern Angami Youth Organization (SAYO) won first and second position in War cry. In Tati, Western Angami Youth Organization, SAYO and NAYO won the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Prizes. SAYO won phrida exhibition. Kekuoleto of SAYO was the winner of traditional fire making and in folk song, SAYO, CYO and WAYO were the winners. In Tholi exhibition, a Traditional game played by girls, CYO was declared winner and top spinning (male), the best exhibition went to WAYO and NAYO. The judges were Neichütuo Rio, Megorüzo Chase, Kelhouwheto Senotsu and Keneikrul Noswe.
The 2nd day of the Festival will feature Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio as the Chief host. The day will witness exhibition of Naga Wrestling for under 12 & 15 category, tug of war, Sekrenyi Feast, extravaganza night among others.
