Upholding peace and friendship, the 6th session of CHOGARÜKI-a conglomeration of four villages namely Chozuba, Gariphema, Rüsoma and Kijumetouma, was held at Trinitarian Spot in Gariphema village under Kohima district
Rev. Khrieo Mezhü, Jolayi Nienu, Veibelietuo Kets and others during the unveiling of the monolith in Gariphema village on Thursday. (EM Image)
GARIPHEMA — Upholding peace and friendship, the 6th session of CHOGARÜKI was held at Trinitarian Spot in Gariphema village under Kohima district on Thursday, where the delegates reaffirmed the treaty.
CHOGARÜKI is a conglomeration of four villages namely Chozuba, Gariphema, Rüsoma and Kijumetouma, which was formed from a peace treaty post head-hunting era to end enmity. The association called ‘CHOGARÜKI’ was established following a meeting held in Chozuba in 1973 to uphold the commitment till the universe comes to an end.
The speaker of the event, Rev. Khrieo Mezhü, pastor of Christian Revival Church (CRC), Rüsoma, cited the teachings of Jesus Christ and urged the gathering to emulate the same by forgiving one another and loving with Christian love.
Asserting that in love there is no fear, he dwelled on the peace treaty made and the friendship forged and urged the members to uphold it in principle and practice.
In his greetings, Rev. Thepupa Swuro, senior pastor of Chozuba Village Baptist Church, recalled how CHOGARÜKI was formed. Rev. Swuro, who is one of the surviving pioneers, stated that it was only through God's intervention that peace, understanding and friendship were established among the villages despite enmity during the head-hunting era.
An elder, Pesilhou Angami, also exhorted the gathering and stated that CHOGARÜKI was formed to uphold true peace and strengthen friendship among the citizens of the four villages. He said peace should begin from person to person and neighborhood to neighborhood so that peace will not be mere rhetoric but practical through forgiveness even in this era.
He further advised the citizens to be honest in their lives.
The oldest citizen of Gariphema village, a 92-year-old Krupa Lohe, expressed delight about the gathering of people embracing peace and friendship through God's grace and love. He also invoked God's blessings.
The welcome address was delivered by Vibeilietuo Kets, chairman of Gariphema village council and treasurer of CHOGARÜKI. He mentioned that Gariphema village hosted CHOGARÜKI after fifty years.
Choral pieces were presented by the Rüsoma choir, Gariphema NCRC, Kijümetouma Baptist Church choir and Chozuba Village Baptist Church choir.
The programme was led by Viketoulie Pielie, assistant pastor of NCRC Gariphema, while an invocation prayer was said by Rev. Thekruzhu Khana, pastor of NCRC Gariphema, and the benediction prayer was said by Chalhoulie Tsierha, senior pastor of Kijümetouma Baptist Church.
A new team of CHOGARÜKI for the tenure 2025-28 would be led by Vibeilietuo Kets as president, Chasalhou Theunuo, Velatso Demo and Khrielie Chase as vice presidents, and Visier Vimera as general secretary, among others.
To commemorate the occasion, a monolith was unveiled by Rev. Khrieo Mezhü, pastor of CRC Rüsoma, followed by a friendship feast with delegates from the four villages.