Kemci-Meleinyi is one of the biggest and longest festivals of Zeme zeliang especially of Gaili Village in Particular. The literary meaning of the word kemci means ‘Holy’ milei ignition of Fire, nyi means festive so it can be called Holy fire ignition Festival’ on the contrary this festival can also be called Eats and drinks festival, sanctification festival. As in these festival from the beginning till the end nobody can allow to work either in the field or at home. All the young and all alike can enjoy eating and drinking where all youths (boys and girls) can be dancing, playing indigenous games and so on.
A Separate spring well for both women folk and menfolk were used to maintain for such sanctification festival and to perform any kind of rites of religion, both men and women shall separat their cooks from the starting till end during this Kemci-Mileinyi.
The festival is observed every year in the last part of february after completion of the Jhum field jungle clearance. It is celebrated in order to sanctify the ensuing year, so that everything goes well during the entire year, this festival is celebrated to invoke bountiful blessings from God, where new works and activities could be successful in all spheres of life.
Activities of the day
Day 1: Heteu, Hebak dap:- which means slaughtering of dogs and pigs for the entire festival, no new meat is allowed during the festival. The men folk always reserves enough meat for the entire long feast. Women folk clean their surroundings. When all preparation is over, the festival begins with by making new fire (ignition) and fetching new holy water from the spring well prepared for menfolk according to the custom, the fire must be kept burring continuously till the end of the festival. They are restricted to taste each others curry or wine. Fire is made in the morung for each clan, every menfolk can obtain fire from their respective clan morung and bring back fire to their respective morung and gather together to feast. The night is called ‘Leidi’ which means “start festival with all new thins”.
Day 2: Rwadi (traditional Howling):-
On the second day menfolk would be sanctified by traditional Howling’ done by carrying long wooden brand called ‘herie’ as a devine spirit. ‘Herie’ could only be hold by a particular man who observed all the religions rites and rituals and is honoured as clean, according to our custom the holder of the ‘Herie’ shall shout ‘Auwi’ a long loud howl, “this Herie must be matching me of which plenty of rice and children shall be blessed abundantly. Right after the howling indigenous games are played by men folk. The winner of every games would be declared for praise and preserve as the valiant Hero’, on this day instead of using the banana leaves as cups, bamboo cups could be used for the remaining days.
Day 3: Bamsak:- which means sit and drink. On the third day people stay at home to drink and eat, boys and girls could invite their friends to their house to feast. Exchanging wine and curries takes place between relatives, friends, neighbor and dear and near ones. Boys call girls by name and those who respond back can shout, ‘auwi’ in the night at the morung as their admire.
Cingpwa means carrying of fire wood. Early morning menfolk would go to collect the fire wood which is already cut the previous day for display, the owner of the morning shall donate wine for the men folk and every household shall also give their own share of wine and meat which is to be taken during the dance performed by boys and girls. Even during the night many items of indigenous dance and games are displayed by the youth, especially the fire wood prepared like a log. After displaying, these woods would be kept for the girls to be burnt in their dormitory in the next coming festival. Women visit the morung of men folk called ‘hebalia’. A big shawl is placed at the middle of the morung where no men can see them. Girl put their hands in from the shawl where men folk wait eagerly to hold their hands, predict the name of the girl. When it is predicted correctly, men folk shout ‘Auwi’ the very girl will be the wife of the prediction in days to come.
On this day, games and dances are performed and in the evening all the menfolk gives up their cup by splitting and pouring their leftover wine on the entrance where animals head are hanged, all the cups are hanged in the heads and horns of the animals as a sign of completion of the festival. All menfolk gives up their cup except the owner of the morung.
All the boys would go out to cut firewood where girls can prepare pickle for feasting in the jungle. When the girls come, they would cease all the materials and serve wine and pickles-the so called firewood shall be divided by the girl, that night too they can dance displaying all the indigenous games and singing of songs, entertaining each others with all these activities and hence the joyful days of festival the meleinyi festivals comes to an end.
