Sumi community in Dimapur celebrates Ahuna

[caption id="attachment_218085" align="alignnone" width="550"] A Sumi youth tries to kick a marker impaled on the tip of a spearhead during an indigenous game called ‘Angu kupusu’ (spear kicking), at Mishikito ground in Dimapur on Wednesday.[/caption] Dimapur, Nov. 14 (EMN): The Sumi community of the DC court area in Dimapur under the aegis of the Sumi Community Council celebrated Ahuna festival with much fanfare and enthusiasm. Khekaho Aye, senior treasury officer was the ‘Ahuna papuh’ and host during the celebrations, in Dimapur on Wed. Nov. 14. The host Aye greeted the gathering and spoke about the significance of Ahuna in bringing the community together. Aye exhorted the members to be inter-dependent and to co-exist and contribute positively to overall development and progress of the Sumi community. A press release from the organisers stated that the celebration was marked by cultural performances and indigenous games. Mishikito Totimi Hoho A post harvest festival of the Sumi community ‘Ahuna’ was celebrated by Mishikito Totimi Hoho (MTH) in collaboration with Mishikito Students Union (MSU) and Mishikito Village Council (MVC) on Wed. at Mishikito ground in Dimapur. The celebration was held in the presence of Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, joint director Dr. Hotokhu Chishi as chief guest and Mishikito village GB Kughaho D Chophy as ‘Ahuna Papuh’. A release from MTH stated that ‘chief guest’ in his speech highlighted on the importance of the festival, its origins and the practices which has been passed on from generations. He also encouraged the gathering to uphold the traditions which would help the younger generation to learn and follow the culture in the future. Exhorting the gathering Western Sumi Totimi Hoho (WSTH) president Jolly Zhimomi lauded Mishikito for their initiative to organise such event to bring togetherness and oneness through the celebration of the festival and encouraging them to promote and preserve the culture. The programme was chaired by Kuholi Assumi and Hukato Assumi, invocation prayer was pronounced Hovitoli Aye, welcome speech was delivered by GB Kughaho D Chophy and welcome song was presented by Lashosa women Hoho and ‘Leshe’ was presented by Tolito Kinimi. The vote of thanks was delivered by MSTH president Helen Kinimi and benediction was pronounced by NCRC associate pastor Atoli Achumi. Highlights of the celebration included traditional games and sports where certificates was given away by the chief guest which further followed by Ahuna feast. AUD Members and brethren of the Aotsakilimi in the western Sumi areas in Nagaland celebrated the post-harvest festival Ahuna of the Sumi community, on November 14 at Diphupar in Dimapur. The festivity was organized by the Aotsakilimi Union of Dimapur (AUD) and hosted by retired ACF Kughaho Achumi. Delivering the welcome speech ‘Ahuna Papu’ Kughaho Achumi spoke about the importance of unity and cooperation between the community’s members. He encouraged them to maintain the ties the members have with one another. A community member Tovishe Achumi spoke about the cultural significance of the Ahuna festival. “Our forefathers performed animistic rituals during Ahuna celebration but today we celebrate with prayers. They offered animals to appease the spirits but today we offer our faith to God,” he said. Members of the Aotsakili Students’ Union presented certificates to two subject toppers of Nagaland University examinations, and to meritorious students who graduated from the Nagaland Board of School Education examinations with distinctions. Sumi community of Purana Bazaar The Sumi community residing at Purana Bazaar ‘B’ in Dimapur celebrated the post harvest festival Ahuna in the colony’s local ground on Nov. 14. Hukavi Yeothimi, a “kilo Kilonser” of the armed group NSCN-IM was the special guest of the event. “We should never forget our custom and traditions,” Yeothomi said and recalled a time when different Sumi villages would celebrate Ahuna on different dates ‘but now all have decided to celebrate on the same day.’ “During the Ahuna feast, the crops are harvested and gathered in the granary and taking out carefully to make the feast,” which he said was to let the whole village “have their fill.” Speaking about the history of Ahuna, Yepthomi explained that “even a leaf from a tree” was not plucked in order to make it a sacred celebration. Dressed in their indigenous attires, Sumi women and men folk of Purana Bazaar ‘B’ performed cultural dances and showcased how crop harvesting was done in the olden times. Caption: Men folk of the Sumi community from Purana Bazaar ‘B’ in Dimapur perform a indigenous dance during the post harvest festival Ahuna, at Purana Bazaar ‘B’ local ground, in Dimapur, on Nov. 14.