Toshi Wungtung
Advisor to ENPO
Tsüngkamneo also known as Neotoneo which means chief festival of festivals. It is by tradition & customary practices the most significant & important festival. There are almost 10 significant festivals that were celebrated by the Yimchungrü Nagas in the ancient past. However, with the changes in the social system and norms in the present and modern days and times, many of these traditional & festival practices are no longer observed & celebrated as in the past. These practices must be revived so as to maintain our historical background & heritage; otherwise we would be uncertain of our identity & equally result in a threat to our social identity. Nagas are distinctively known by their unique social & political history, customs & traditions, which are renowned all over the world.
Tsüngkamneo or Neotoneo is celebrated in the month of ‘Youngphu’ (January) and hence seasonally called as Tsüngkamneo or Winter Festival. In the ancient days, the preparation to observe this festival took months ahead, especially after harvest which was normally after the month of October.
One very unique & outstanding feature or practice of the festival was Aneo-ji khi or Limtsüa-tsuachih -khi (Holding special feasts of merit for special invitees where the Chief feast master would host the entire village, communities etc). In this practice, expensive gifts were presented and also exchanged for lifelong friendship. During festival, Peace Treaties, bonding of relationship, reconciliations were observed between the warring villages, communities & individuals. This was observed by hosting lavish feasts between the enemies and at the same time re-affirmation/ re-strengthening and maintaining of friendship between existing enemies.
Another point to be noted is the feast of merit and kind of thanksgiving for the blessings such as livestock, harvest and other wealth & properties. The best of delicacies in different items/Menu & special brewed/drinks were prepared in the finest and choices, e.g., Preparation of the special items & best of wine such as the finest rice beer were served in Mithun horns & special crafted wooden/bamboo mugs. Normally the finest animals were slaughtered for the feast.
A particular folk song called as “Penkhun” where the song is sung describing the basic elements of the earth/ universe & the role of the Man-Kind in the social spheres & norms. It is also noted to be a taboo to abuse the process of the song, in other words it must be completely sung from beginning to end in term of notes & lyrics. It is also said that the song is sung from morning till sunset. A Robust dancing & waltzing were displayed by the warriors & the young. Both genders had different items of dance performance, different traditional games & sports were also organised. The duration of the festival last a few days keeping in mind that the festival is prepared in months.
During this festival, the finest & the best textiles/clothing were woven to be worn, where along with dressing there is display of traditional jewellery & ornaments. One outstanding shawl which was adorned was “Rhe-hü khim/ Rhehü khih-khim”, where the patterns in the shawl displayed bravery, wealth, & status in the society. There were other shawls which depicted similar significances.
This festival is significant and outstanding encompassing the historical heritage, social-cultural, economic & political heritage of the Yimchungrü Nagas. This festival was/is originally and uniquely practiced by the Yimchungrü Nagas since the ancient times, which must be proudly maintained and practiced as a heritage.
(Yimchunger Arih-Ako Chumukedima will be celebrating Tsüngkamneo Festival on January 16 at Chumukedima Town Hall)
