Angami Women Organisation celebrates Khoupfhünyi in Kohima, with Minister Salhoutuonuo Kruse backing a proposal to include the traditional festival as a restricted holiday.
KOHIMA — The Angami Women Organisation (AWO) organised a grand celebration of Khoupfhünyi, the traditional festival of the Angami people, at Khouchiezie Local Ground, Kohima, on Friday.
Khoupfhünyi is a celebration of blessings, prosperity, sharing and togetherness associated with women and young girls. The festival is marked by the exchange of food, communal feasting and special offerings, reflecting values of generosity, love, care and harmony within the community.
Minister for Women Resource Development and Horticulture, Salhoutuonuo Kruse, who attended the celebration as the special guest, appreciated the AWO for bringing the Angami community together and organising Khoupfhünyi at the AWO level for the first time.
Kruse endorsed the proposal to include the festival in the government calendar as a restricted holiday, stating that the celebration would promote unity and cooperation among the Angami community.
She said customs and traditions associated with Khoupfhünyi across different Angami ranges could be brought together to further strengthen unity.
Highlighting the role of women and girls in building peaceful and progressive families and society, she said the festival provided an opportunity to honour and celebrate their contributions.
Kruse also stressed the importance of preserving traditional and cultural values, cautioning that community stories and heritage could disappear if they were not documented and passed on to future generations.
During the programme, she released the AWO book ‘Cultural Footprints: Give to Gain’ and suggested incorporating photographs to better depict cultural practices.
She further noted that with tourism being promoted in Nagaland under Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, preserving and promoting the state's culture and traditions would be important for strengthening the tourism sector and generating revenue.
AWO general secretary Atono Kense narrated that, according to practices followed in Viswema village, Khoupfhünyi is generally celebrated during the Millets Festival month of July or August, on the 13th day.
The festival is dedicated to girl children who have not yet attained puberty. On the day of the festival, food and delicacies are served to the girls in the morning, and they are expected to eat throughout the day.
Thejao Vihienuo, president of the Angami Public Organisation (APO), conveyed his greetings to the gathering and said the APO plans to request the state government to include August 28 in the official calendar as a restricted holiday.
Delivering the keynote address, AWO president Neithono R Sothu said Khoupfhünyi is a feast of love and a festival of sharing, togetherness and gratitude, celebrating the bonds that unite the Angami people.
The programme also featured a short skit by the Viswema Women Organisation and a folk song by the Jotsoma Women Organisation.