Normally, the festival falls between December and January. However, at present, it is observed for a single day, that is, 16th of January. The festival is closely associated with the accomplishment of agricultural works and harvest. Thus it may be stated that the festival is an occasion for displaying one’s wealth. The people labour in their respective field unceasingly throughout the year and when all the crops are harvested and hoarded in their granaries they rest for some months. During such leisure, the womenfolk weave shawls and clothes for their spouse and near ones while the men folk weave basketry, set out for hunting and fishing. With a tall preparation people began to invite each other in merrymaking.
The most interesting aspect of the festival is the making of cake at every household through Zhidong (sesame) known as Zhütsüt. People saunters around the village singing and dancing in group tasting Zhütsütat every household. There is no rest in merriment until the invitation of each other is accomplished. It is also a festival of peace. The belligerent villages may invite each other for a peace treaty, beside the individual persons or families engaging themselves in extinguishing their differences. The festival is also a good time for the paupers of the village because they receive numerous gifts in the form of rice and meat from the well-to-do families. In this festival the young boys and girls can associate freely with one another. The young lovers may also exchange a gift to each other. Mostly, marriage betrothal is made during the festival when the parents of the intending lovers may fix a day for their marriage. It is a day when the friends, relatives, brothers and sisters are invited and treated with drinks and meat. It is a time of love and consolidation of friendship and a day of declaration for hosting the feast of merit. It is a day of inculcating a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood. The married sisters present mugs of seasoned local beer, agricultural products and other gifts to their brothers. In return their brothers present chunks of meat to them.
One of the most interesting aspects of the festival is that there is no single house hold without meat and drinks. Even the pauper of the village manages to maintain some quantity of rice, meat and drinks for the festival. The food provisions are stored in advance enough for the whole period of celebration. The influence of festive mood is so great that even the aged people and the toddlers of the village join hands in singing and dancing day and night. There is no grief and regret in merrymaking.
During the festival, it is forbidden for anyone to set out to one’s field or wood for the purpose of hunting, collecting firewood and the like. It is believed that the field of a person who acted in defiance of the customary rule may be devastated by the storms and other unnatural aspects. It is also forbidden for a person to wander around the village all alone owing to the belief that a malevolent spirit is always seeking for an opportune time to either devour of cause infliction to a person. Thus, it is expedient that a person should be accompanied by one or more friends to avert the impending belief.
Tsukhumong Yimchungrü
Kuda Village Dimapur
