Morung Express News
October 5
Peren: The Zeliangrong Heraka Pailei Baudi (Zeliangrong Heraka Women Society) in a memorandum issued to the Chief Minister has appealed to stop undue humiliation of Heraka followers in Zeliang area. The Zeliangrong Heraka Association which was founded by Haipou Jadonang and nurtured by revered freedom fighter Rani Gaidinliu, upholds the age old forefathers religion and culture. The Zeliangrong Heraka Pailei Baudi are the followers of indigenous religion called Zeliangrong Heraka Religion and worships sun, moon and Lord Tingwang on full moon days. They have their well- established Heraka temple where they offer prayers to Lord Tingwang. In their festivals, celebrations and poojas, madhu (rice beer) is used as an essential and unavoidable item among the pooja materials.
In the representation issued to the CM, it stated that, madhu, foreign liquors and contraband drugs and ganjas are being illegally sold in all the big and small towns of Nagaland.
It stated that the peddlers are not followers of indigenous religions but Christianity. Even after the declaration of Nagaland as ‘Dry State’, liquor bottles are illegally available in every colony of village, towns and cities in Nagaland and no imposition had been effective so far in this issue, it stated.
In the memorandum, the women society has pointed out that some enthusiastic Christian women instead of controlling their family members, had been trespassing into Heraka houses in groups. It stated that these women forcefully enter their homes and snatch away detchis and pots on the plea of madhu pots. The utensils were only returned after a fine payment of Rs. 50 for each.
Taking advantage of poverty and illiteracy, the trespassers claiming to be from women society welfare, often inflict mental agony and physical humiliation on the Heraka people which they bear in silence, the representation stated.
In Jalukie, some ladies claiming to be members of Jalukie Town Women Welfare Society (JTWWS) accompanied by Deising Zeliang, Jalukie Town Committee member forced one Heraka Paipui Kamadile to open the Heraka Temple on September 12 on the report that madhu was hidden in large quantity inside the Temple.
The search party entered the Temple with footwear and desecrated their worship place which showed utter disregard for Heraka customs. No madhu was found inside.
In another instance, the release stated that the team had also entered the houses of Bambuile Zeliang and Kamadile Zeliang, Heraka Paipui of Jalukie town and snatched away the small pots containing madhu reserved for pooja purpose. The Jalukie ‘B’ village Women Society teams comprised of Christian ladies who visited every household of Heraka families for inspection of madhu sale.
In a meeting, the leaders of this movement have declared that Heraka followers can prepare madhu for pooja and family use. However, they are astonished and felt insulted by the search team when one or two small pots of madhu prepared for specific reasons from hard earned money were snatched away.
The representation stated that the disregard and hatred shown towards their indigenous customs and traditions during the search has agonized the Heraka community.
The Zeliangrong Heraka Pailei Baudi Nagaland has viewed it seriously that if this type of undue harassment of Heraka followers continues, it may cause communal tension. It appealed to the CM that the community endeavors hard to make the society free from evil and develop it in such a way that peace and tranquility prevails. It believes that the administration would take immediate action to protect Heraka community from undue harassment.
