Our Correspondent
Viswema | July 7
Clad in traditional attires, young girls below 15 years of age today celebrated Te-I Khukhu festival here at R. Khel, Viswema village. Te-I Khukhu is a festival solely dedicated for girls. The celebration was held under the aegis of Rachii Youth Organization (RYO).
Speaking on the occasion, Tebiil Neikha, an elder of Viswema village called upon the young girls to dedicate themselves to God to have healthy and progressive life. He also asked them to reason together and strive towards living a dignified life. The celebration was chaired by RYO president Meyiekiil Noswe.
Te-l Khukhu is a festival that falls on the 13th of Chünyi (July) and it is dedicated and celebrated only by girls below 15 years, by shaving off their hair. It is also a time of giving and sharing of food with one another. This is the only festival dedicated for girls.
For the celebration, young girls prepare for the Te-I Khukhu festival by collecting flowers in advance to decorate the chokrwu (eaves) at the entrance of the house. The flowers are put on the eaves and roof opening and roof including the kika (a ‘V’ shaped wooden board).
During preparation of Te-I Khukhu, the men folk cut phsü (Oak) trees and collect olo (carpenter worms), womenfolk start grinding othsü (millet) and catch kona (edible snails) for the fest. The cooked foods are served in nakawu (type of peepal leaf) rolled into the shape of cone and pinned with small bamboo sticks.
However, since the advent of Christianity, the act of shaving the hair of the girls is not practiced and no rituals are performed. Yet the significance of Te-l Khukhu is revisited every year to keep the spirit of the tradition alive.
