A cultural troupe presents a dance during the Rengma Ngada organised as a part of the Mini-Hornbill Festival at Tesophenyu Local ground November 27.
Tesophenyu, December 2 (MExN): The Tesophenyu Group Public Union (Central), TGPU under the aegis of the Rengma Hoho organised the Rengma Ngada as part of the Mini-Hornbill Festival at Tesophenyu Local ground November 27.
In the event chaired by TGPU President Agwanye Seb, the council chairmen of Tesophenyu group of villages delivered the Ngada greetings while Runoha Magh, Advisor of TGPU shared on the significance of Ngada Festival.
Magh in speech recalled that Rengma Ngada, also called Akhvütsüü, is one of the chief festivals of the Rengma Nagas and is cerebrated by the end of November every year as farmers finish the harvest and paddy is brought home and stored in the granaries.
“This festival marks the end of the year and the end of the celebration will usher in a new year to start another fresh cultivation year,” he said.
During this festival all taboos due certain incidents between any two individuals are forgotten and reconciled and start to share meal cooked in one pot, he said.
In the past, relatives clean the grave yard of their loved ones and honour the departed soul by offering food and drinks in their grave, he added.
While Khel members go out in procession in the village singing folk songs, performing dance and greet one another, people hosts parties in honour of the friendship bond established with their fellow comrades, the Advisor added.
During this season young people go out in the village to pay a visit to their company girl friends who got married to other Khel members, he further noted.
By the end of the celebration a ritual called anenkezonzükejü or nezenzu ketsü was performed to mark the end of a year and the next day was taken as a new year, he added.
Earlier, the event started with an invocation of God’s blessing by Rev Wachulo Jemu and included
folk song presentation by Tesophenyu Group Women Union and a folk dance performed by Kepvüsheng logwa followed by a competition on traditional fire making and Pork leg kicking.
This was followed by prize distribution and later a vote of Thanks by Rüzhüthong Mesung, Treasurer TGPU and thereafter people relished on Ngada Feast, infored a press release from the TGPU.
