Advisor Vitsu calls for preserving Naga culture, tradition
Advisor Vitsu calls for preserving Naga culture, tradition
Advisor for Prison, Printing and Stationery, Kropol Vitsu, on Tuesday called for preserving of Naga culture and tradition, urging the Angami community to take the lead
2-day
Sekrenyi-cum-Mini-Hornbill festival underway at Kisama Heritage Village
Kropol Vitsu addressing the Sekrenyi-cum-Mini-Hornbill
festival celebration at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, on Tuesday. (EM Images)
KISAMA — Advisor
for Prison, Printing and Stationery, Kropol Vitsu, on Tuesday called for
preserving of Naga culture and tradition, urging the Angami community to take
the lead.
He was addressing the inaugural session of the two-day
Sekrenyi-cum-Mini-Hornbill festival celebration at the Amphitheatre, Naga Heritage
Village, Kisama in Kohima district.
Participants performing folk song during the Sekrenyi-cum-Mini-Hornbill
festival celebration at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, on Tuesday. (EM Images)
Vitsu said Sekrenyi is a time of sanctification and
purification or cleansing of the body and soul, which should guide individuals
and the community throughout the year.
The festival is also a time of merrymaking and feasting in
celebration of the completion of the yearly tasks and the onset of a new year.
In earlier times, every Angami village celebrated Sekrenyi
on varying dates according to the lunar calendar, he said.
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The advisor acknowledged the wisdom of those who initiated
the Sekrenyi celebration on February 25, thereby uniting all Angami villages
through a common celebration.
Asserting that Sekrenyi holds traditional and cultural
values, Vitsu said that these values should be passed on to posterity. He expressed
concern that the traditional festival was likely on the brink of extinction in
the modern world, and that future generations might forget their culture and
tradition.
He also highlighted one significant tradition during
Sekrenyi - 'Feast of merits' – thrown by well-to-do couples.
He explained that the first ‘Feast of merit,’ earns a person
a pillow and bedsheet at the time of their death, second feast a white shawl
and 'Thupikhwe' shawl, third feast allows a person to erect stones in prominent
places, and the fourth grants the honour of a ‘horn house.’
Vitsu reminded that in the olden days, such merits were
hard-earned and held high value and reverence within the community.
Ban on dog meat consumption a ‘sacrilege’
Meanwhile, Vitsu termed the move to prohibit dog meat
consumption in the country and the opposition raised by some animal activists
as a “serious sacrilege” against the values and culture of the Nagas.
He remarked that dogs were traditionally killed and consumed
on the third day of Sekrenyi. In olden times, and among those practicing
animism, dogs were also killed in the month of May and their meat hung at
village gates to rot and produce a strong odour to ward off bad spirits and
omens.
This practice was believed to protect the village and
community, ensuring the villagers’ health for the year’s work, he said.
Asserting that Naga culture is richly blessed, he called for
its preservation and revival rather than opposition. He implored the people not
to let their culture and traditions be overshadowed by others.
Earlier, welcome address was delivered by Keneilesa Neikha,
general secretary of Angami Public Organisation (APO) and invocation prayer
pronounced by Rev. Fr. Dr. George Pezalhoukho Rino, PG coordinator of St.
Joseph College (Autonomous), Jakhama.
Kruvil Kikhi invoked the traditional blessings and
Visosietuo Vupru blew the traditional horn.
The programme was led by Seyielhoutuo Keyho, vice president
(Judicial) of APO.
Other highlights of the celebration included Angami ethnic,
cultural and indigenous games, featuring events such as war cry, ‘Tati Pfe,’
folk song, ‘Phrida,’ traditional fire making, ‘Tholi,’ and wooden top spin.
On February 26, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio will attend the
celebration as the chief host.
