Khriehu Liezietsu speaking at ‘Kewhimia Sekrenyi 2022’ in Kohima on March 5. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 5
Sekrenyi, the premier festival of Angami Nagas, today brought the Nagas together in reasoning together and forging Naga unity. This was conveyed at ‘Kewhimia Sekrenyi 2022’, which was celebrated with traditional gaiety and favor at Ziekezou, Kohima village under the aegis of Kohima Village Youth Organization (KVYO).
Delivering welcome address, the host of the festival MLA Khriehu Liezietsu said that Sekrenyi is a festival to purify both body and soul and seek divine blessings for prosperity and good health for the days ahead. “All of us should carry back the blessings so that we can live in peace and harmony.”
KVYO president Ruokuoneituo Phewhuo said the KVYO has invited all the tribes of the Nagas as well as the leaders of 19 municipal wards of Kohima town to new the friendship.
Kohima Village Council chairman Helievi-o Solo said that Kohima village is believed to have been established 700 years ago and the name Kohima was derived from the name Kewhimia which means (Welcome everybody). He said that when the British arrived, they could not pronounce Kewhimia properly, so the name eventually became Kohima.
The village is composed of 4 khels with 38 clans, he said. In 1881, the American Missionaries brought Christianity and education. Today, the whole village embraced Christianity, he said.
“As the name Kewhimia denotes “Welcome everyone,” I take pride to say that we dream to have communal harmony in our land as it is vital for development and brotherhood. Let us stick together, nothing should drive us apart,” he said. “Let us celebrate the Sekrenyi festival together and make merry as we renew old friendships and make new friends at this time of the year,” he said.
Let the spirit of Sekrenyi be the unifying force of the entire Nagas and its aspiration “Nagas without borders,” he said.
Kevipfhe-ü Solo and Neingusalie Khruomo compered the programme. The festival witnessed grease pole climbing, war cry, stilt bamboo walk, tug of war, Thapru, Kemie Shü and Seguo Mi Shü.
Sekrenyi is the festival of purification, which surrounds through various rituals. Today the celebrants no longer follow the rituals that the grandfathers followed but ‘they celebrate Sekrenyi to preserve and reason together the goodness of the festival. Today, the festival is celebrated to foster friendship and renew the bond.
