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Dimapur, Nov. 27 (EMN): A two-day post harvest festival of the Rengma community ‘Ngada’ got underway on November 27. The word ‘Ngada’ is derived from ‘Nga’ for festival and ‘da’ for great, which means the greatest of all Rengma festivals.
It is a thanksgiving festival for the bountiful harvest where the rich and poor alike share with one another in merry making. The festival is also celebrated to showcase their best attire and where wrongdoings are forgiven. It is a festival to mark the end of a year and beginning of a new year, starting afresh with renewed mind, strength and happiness.
Meanwhile, Nagaland Governor RN Ravi has greeted the people of Nagaland in general and the Rengma community in particular on the occasion of Ngada festival.
“Ngada has the beautiful underlying essence of purity, forgiveness, brotherhood and unity. Our youths need to carry forward these significant cultural legacies,” Ravi stated in his message.
As the people continue to fight against the pandemic, he urged everyone to celebrate the festival by observing all Covid-19 protocols. He further wished good health, peace and prosperity to all.
The Rengma Hoho wished all its community members to celebrate Ngada in its true spirit and also value the significance of the festival. On the occasion, the hoho president Pollem Tep conveyed goodwill to all the Nagas.
He also wished that the celebration of Ngada festival be a time to remember God’s blessing. He further appealed to celebrate Ngada by following the SOPs in consideration of the prevailing pandemic.
The deputy chief minister Y Patton has also greeted the Rengma community on the occasion of Ngada festival. Stating that Rengma community has been celebrating Ngada from time immemorial, Patton urged them to remember their ancestors who left behind a great legacy and expressed hope that it would bring forth goodwill and manifold blessings.
Patton, on behalf of the state BJP legislatures, urged them to celebrate the festival keeping in mind the SOPs.
In a separate statement, the NSCN (Reformation) through its MIP conveyed a very warm 'Ngada greetings' to the Rengma Nagas, inhabiting both in Nagaland and parts of Assam.
It stated that Ngada is generally celebrated for seven days by organising various activities including 'Preparation of rice beer' on the first day. It added that the later days are marked with repairing/ renovating of ancestors/ departed's graves, followed by cleaning weapons and culminated with feasting, singing, dancing and other cultural activities. On the occasion, it prayed that the spirit of oneness, reconciliation, forgiveness, forbearance, peace and harmony prevail among the community. It further prayed to the Almighty God to shower and bestow His 'love, grace and abundant blessings upon them.’