Male villagers from Kutsapo take part in the traditional stone pulling, marked as a prelude to the 75th Anniversary celebration of Kutsapo Baptist Church in Phek district on November 11. (Photo Courtesy: KBC)
Kohima, November 12 (MExN): As a prelude to the 75th Anniversary celebration of Kutsapo Baptist Church (KPC) in Phek district, a traditional stone-pulling ceremony took place on November 11.
For the event, all the village’s menfolk (both young and old) assembled at a local playground, where Kuzhohuto Rhakho, the local Pastor, administered the ceremony, performing Christian rituals. Dukhuyi Vadeo, an evangelist, pronounced God's blessings.
The group then proceeded to the designated place for the stone-pulling.
Church advisor Chekhuthiyi Vese conducted an act of sanctification, and the monolith-pulling commenced.
Organising committee convenor Vechikhoyi Lohe mentioned that around 1500 individuals, both young and old, adorned in traditional attire, willingly lined up and pulled the monolith with great vigour, intoning warrior calls and other traditional cries continuously until the monolith reached the church compound.
The event witnessed many elderly people steadfastly grasping the rope despite their fragile physique, adding more significance and spectacle to the occasion.
A stone monolith slab measuring 15 ft long, 4 ft wide, and 1 ft thick was pulled during the event.
Villagers used locally available ropes (Alotsii kighi and Azhichi kighi in the local Siitsa language), known for their commercial usefulness due to their tensile strength. The total length of the rope reportedly measured 500 metres.
Meanwhile, on the same day, the Committee on Local Arrangement (COLA) prepared a ceremonial feast for all the villagers to commemorate the significant event.
The 75th Anniversary celebration of Kutsapo Baptist Church is scheduled to be held on December 15, according to the press and media cell of the 75th Anniversary celebration, KBC.
