Our Correspondent
Kohima March 6 (EMN): Conveying the significance of ‘Sekrenyi,’ which is to purify and seek divine blessings for prosperity and good health in the days to come, NPF legislator Khriehu Liezietsu, urged upon all to carry home the blessings of the festival and promote peace and harmony in the society.
Liezietsu stated this during the ‘Kewhimia Sekrenyi 2022’ festival celebration at Ziekezou in Kohima village under the aegis of Kohima Village Youth Organisation (KVYO) on March 5. The host of the festival, Liezietsu, expressed that although there are many citizens living in the state capital with diverse culture and religion, there is a common message of Sekrenyi for all to purify and seek divine blessings for prosperity and good health for the days to come.
He also reminded all to carry back the blessings so that each of them could live in peace and harmony.
Also speaking on the occasion, KVYO president Ruokuoneituo Phewhuo informed that the organisation has invited all the Naga tribes as well as the leaders of 19 municipal wards of Kohima town to renew the friendship.
The chairman of Kohima Village Council, Helievi-o Solo, stated that Kohima village was believed to have been established 700 years ago and the name Kohima was derived from the name Kewhimia, which means ‘welcome everybody.’ He stated that when the British came they could not pronounced ‘Kewhimia’ appropriately and the name eventually became Kohima.
He informed that the village is comprised of four khels with 38 clans. He added that with the introduction of Christianity and education by the American missionaries in 1881, the whole village has embraced Christianity today.
“As the name Kewhimia denotes ‘welcome everyone,’ I take pride to say that we dream to have communal harmony in our land as it is vital for development and brotherhood. Let us stick together, nothing should drive us apart,” he said.
“Let us celebrate Sekrenyi festival together and make merry as we renew old friendships and make new friends at this time of the year,” he said adding, “Let the spirit of Sekrenyi be the unifying force of the entire Nagas and its aspiration for Nagas without borders.”
The festival witnessed cultural items such as greased-pole climbing, war cry, stilt bamboo walk, tug-of-war, Thapru, Kemie Shü and Seguo mi shü.
Sekrenyi is the festival of purification, which involves various rituals. Today, the celebrants no longer follow the rituals practiced by the forefathers. Today, Sekrenyi is celebrated to preserve and reason together the goodness of the festival. The festival is celebrated to foster friendship and renew bond.